IMAGE  EVALUATiON 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


I.! 


1.0     K«4»ia 

Ui  l&i   12.2 
IS   1^   12.0 


'/ 


FhotDgFa^Jiic 

Sdmoes 

Corpraation 


^W* 

^.V* 


23  VVBT  MAM  STRHT 

WnSTm,K.Y.  14SM 

( 71* )  •72-4503 


'^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  IVIicroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historlques 


Technical  and  Bibliotfraphic  Notaa/Notaa  tachniquaa  at  bibliographipuaa 


The  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


Q 


.    Colourad  covara/ 
2LI   Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I    Covara  damagad/ 


D 


D 
D 


n 


n 


Couvartura  endommagte 

Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  pallicuite 


I      I   Covar  titia  miaaing/ 


La  titro  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  maps/ 

Cartaa  giographiquatt  an  coulaur 


□    Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black}/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  biaua  ou  noira) 

I     I    Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Rali4  avac  d'autraa  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  re  liura  aarr^a  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  la  marga  IntAriaurc 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  poaaible,  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certainea  pagea  blanchea  ajoutAee 
lora  d'une  reatauration  apparaiaaent  dana  la  taxte, 
mala,  loraqua  cela  Atait  poaaible,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
pea  AtA  filmtea. 

Additional  commenta:/ 
Commentairea  aupplAmantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  mailleur  exemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  4t4  poaaible  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  dAtaila 
da  cat  exemplaira  qui  aont  peut-itra  uniquea  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  de  f ilmage 
aont  indiqute  ci-deaaoua. 


T 
t( 


I     I  Colourad  pagea/ 


D 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  andommagtea 


□   Pagea  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagea  reataurAea  at/ou  paiiiculAea 

rri   Pagea  diacolourad,  atainad  or  foxed/ 
L^   Pagea  dAcolor^aa.  tachetAea  ou  piqutea 

□   Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  dAtachtea 

Showthroughy 
Tranaparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualit^  InAgaia  de  I'impreaaion 

Includea  aupplementary  mataric 
Comprend  du  materiel  auppl^mantaire 


T 

P 
o 
fi 


O 
b 
tl 
al 

o\ 
fl 
al 

oi 


rri   Showthrough/ 

pn   Quality  of  print  variea/ 

I     I   Includea  aupplementary  material/ 


r~1    Only  edition  available/ 


; 

w 

M 
di 
er 
b< 

re 
m 


Seule  Mition  diaponible 

Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauea,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
enaure  the  beat  poaaible  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totalement  ou  partiallement 
obacurciea  par  un  fauillet  d'errata,  une  pelure. 
etc.,  ont  4t4  filmtea  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  la  mellleure  image  poaaible. 


Thia  item  la  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-deaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

2BX 

30X 

y 

3 

12X 


16X 


20X 


2IX 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  h«r«  has  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tho  gonorotity  of: 

Library  of  tha  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'axampiaira  filmA  f ut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
gin*rositA  da: 

La  bibliothdqua  dat  Archivas 
publiques  du  Canada 


Tha  imagaa  appearing  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
possibia  consldaring  tha  condition  and  iaglbllity 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  xpaclf icationa. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  filmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  ending  on 
tha  laat  page  with  a  printad  or  Illustrated  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  imprea- 
slon,  and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printad 
or  illustrated  Impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  ▼  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  appiiaa. 


Las  images  suivantas  ont  4tA  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  da  rexemplaire  film*,  at  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filr;tage. 

Le«  exempiaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  Bn 
papier  eat  ImprimAe  sont  filmis  an  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  amprainte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'Sllustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  aalon  le  cas.  Tous  l«s  autres  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  fiimte  en  commen^ant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'lllustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  una  telle 
smprelnte. 

Un  dee  symboies  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  la 
cas:  le  symbols  -*-  signifie  "A  SUiVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratioa.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  Included  In  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
fllmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trap  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seul  cllchA,  ii  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArleur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  an  bas,  «)n  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

5  " 

1  ^/; , 


•'       (.b ' 


f 


ITm" 


//T 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA ;  £ 


■tfi 


^ 


ITS 


Condition  and  Prospects, 


BmiL..  HMmMMn 


AND 


^) 


imERAL  RESOURCES, 


COXSIDKREI). 


r>Y    Jl  K  X  11  Y    DhGUOOT. 


SAX  FRANCISCO  : 

Printed  at  the  Alta  California  lol)  Otlicc,  l:!4  Sacramento  street,  up  staira, 

1859. 


'^'^i^^^^ 


m 


i       BRITISH  COLUMBIA ; 


ITS 


Condition  and  Prospects, 


roZ£.  illMHTl 


i 


AND 


MINERAL  RESOURCES, 


HI' .  .  :> 


CONSIDERED. 


By   henry   DbGROOT, 


SAN  FRANCISCO  : 

Printed  at  the  AIt«  California  Job  0£Sce,  124  Sacramento  street,  up  stairs, 

1859. 


fv  ^  H  I  ^i 


nini 


( J I 


:i 


PREFACE. 


i-ii  I 


The  content,  of  the  following  page,,  were  originally  published  in  t»'y°»7»»  «' »*; 
Daily  Alta  Caltfomia,  where  they  appeared  in  a  ,erie,  of  article,  prepared  '^^^^^^^l^ 
And  although  they  have  thus  obtained  k  vast  publicity,  the  writer  ha,  been  encouraged  to 
fwnkiSht  serve  a  useful  purpose,  to  present  then:  in  a  collected  shape,  a,  furn.sh.ng  .n  a 

them  in  their  present  more  pretentiou,  form. 


u\ 


',  '    •    '     J  !     I    '  '  '.  1       1  1     f  1    .  . 


.?  .,•,'''.    \y  ,  'J   ii--  '-h'"  .  .'i 


BRITISH   COLUMBIA: 

Vm  SOIL,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  &c. 


of  ths 
paper, 
ged  to 
ig  in  » 
airy  Of 
>twith- 
t  w«y ; 
:e  from 
lis,  and 
prcwnt 


Having  Rpnnt  the  greater  pnrt  of  the  past 
■even  month's  traveling  through  the  interior  of 
British  Columbia,  in  the  capacity  of  newspaper 
correspondent,  the  writer  has  since  his  return 
been  frequently  applied  to  for  information 
touching  that  region,  by  parties  desirous  of 
emigrating  thither,  or  by  others  willing  to  can- 
Taiji  the  inducements  for  doing  so.  As  a  means 
of  answering  those  inquiries,  and  embodying 
the  latest  authentic  intelligence  from  a  quarter 
which,do<ipitctheir  rcccntdisappointments,  has 
not  ceased  to  interest  our  people,  he  has 
determined  to  publish  a  short  series  of  articles 
on  the  soil,  climate  and  natural  resources  of 
that  country,  selecting  as  the  medium  the 
columns  of  our  oldest  and  most  widely  ex- 
tended journal.  The  writer  engages  in  this 
task  the  more  readily  from  the  fact  that  he 
has,  hitherto,  found  little  inducement  to  pub- 
lish any  considerable  portion  of  the  copious 
notes  kept  while  journeying  over  Vancouver's 
Island  and  the  main  land;  and  for  the  furlber 
reason,  that  his  views  as  heretofore  exhibited 
are  lacking  in  entireness,  several  lengthy 
letters  designed  for  publication  having  failed 
of  that  end  through  the  uncertain  modes  of 
transmission  incident  to  the  remote  localities 
where  they  were  written. 

This  purpose,  then,  of  placing  before  the 
public  the  information  gleaned  during  his 
travels  in  a  summary  and  consecutive* shap';, 
will  form  the  author's  excuse  should  certain 
of  his  ideas  seem  familiar  to  the  reader,  or 
should  something  of  repetition  pppear  in  what 
he  may  now  have  to  say.  It  will  be  his  aim, 
however,  to  avoid  reiterating  what  is  already 
well  known,  and  to  adduce  as  many  new  facts 
in  the  present  writing  as  he  shall  have  in 
possession  or  be  able  to  command.  It  consti- 
tutes no  part  of  his  plan  to  write  a  formal 
"Vindication  of  the  Eraser  River  Mines;" 
or  to  frame  apologies  for  the  failures  that  have 
so  frequently  attended  their  working.  This  is 
a  business  to  which  he  has  not  felt  called — a 
work,  the  performance  of  which,  in  the  absence 
of  any  disposition  or  motive  on  his  part,  must 
necessarily  be  left  to  others. 

Yet  it  is  but  just  a  proper  exposition  should 
be  given  of  the  causes  that  led  to  these  failures 
BO  continuous,  general  and  disastrous,  as  to 
have  well  nigh  destroyed  all  confidence  in  the 
mineral  wealth  of  a  country,  which,  but  ten 
months  ago,  was,  by  many,  deemed  a  rival,  if 
not  the  peer,  of  California.    Candor  compels 


the  admission  that  these  untoward  results 
were  attributable  to  the  precipitate  action  of 
the  adventurers  themselves,  coupled  with  mani- 
fold and  all  but  insuperable  obstacles  inter- 
posed between  them  and  their  field  of  opera- 
tions, quite  as  much  as  to  the  limited  urea  cr 
non-productive  character  of  the  mines.  A 
slight  examination  of  the  country  to  be  pene- 
trated, and  of  the  circumstances  under  which 
this  immigration  took  place,  can  hnnlly  fail  to 
confirm  this  opinion,  and  impress  its  justness 
upon  every  candid  and  dispassionate  mind. 
No  special  pleading  should  be  tolerated  in 
behalf  of  these  mines,  nor  should  any  attempts 
be  winked  at  for  glossing  over  the  fearful 
perils  and  fatal  catastrophies  that  attended 
their  opening.  We  have  had  enough  of  ihis 
— and  too  much,  as  the  thousands  returning 
empty-handed,  and  the  hundreds  who  will  no 
more  return  at  all,  can  testify.  Still,  it  is  meet 
the  public  be  possessed  of  all  the  facts,  to  the 
end,  that  being  fu'.ly  advised  they  may  fairly 
judge  and  intelligently  act  for  themselves. 

It  is,  moreover,  important  that  the  residents 
of  California  properly  understand  the  relative 
postion  of  their  own  State  and  these  new  com- 
munities about  being  planted  on  their  northern 
border,  and  that  they  fully  appreciate  the  re- 
ciprocal advantages  likely  to  arise  therefrom 
in  the  future.  This  is  a  point  on  which,  owing 
to  a  perverted  sentiment  of  patriotism,  or  a 
narrow  feeling  of  national  jealousy,  or,  per- 
haps, to  the;  low  stand-point  from  which  the 
subject  has  been  viewed,  there  is  much  misap- 
prehension in  the  minds  of  our  citizens.  We 
Have  been  apt  to  consider  these  colonies  of 
British  Columbia  and  Vancouver  as  necessarily 
antagonistic  to  the  interests  and  progress  of 
California.  It  has  been  our  wont  to  regard 
them 'simply  as  rivals — competitors  entering 
the  field  to  bid  for  population — decoying 
sojourners  from  our  midst,  and  diverting  new- 
comers from  our  shores.  Some  have  oven  af. 
fected  to  see  in  these  distant  provinces,  so  sit- 
uate on  the  outer  verge  of  the  British  empire, 
the  instruments  wherewith  England  hopes  to 
check  our  growth  and  impede  our  march  to 
greatness,  if  indeed  they  may  not  be  the  germs 
of  a  power  which  is  one  day  to  arise  and  over- 
shadow our  Pacific  Republics. 

That  England  has  great  purposes  to  effect  in 
this  part  of  the  world,  is  no  doubt  true ;  that 
she  has  grand  projects  on  foot,  looking  to  a 
union  of  her  North  American  colonies,  and 


Aj'fm 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


the  opening  of  a  higAway  from  ocpan  to  oconn, 
the  docs  seek  to  digKiiiso.  Tliut'  tlioHO  now 
(Cttlpmcntg  on  our  iior'ii  arc  yet  to  Ixrunie 
cotnpetilurs  for  tho  trade  of  tlio  Uii8t,  if  not 
the  commercial  Huprcmacy  of  tlie  I'acilic,  it 
wc-e  UBcleis  to  deny.  Kntrcpot.i  are  loon  to 
ipriii);  up  on  these  hitherto  undiHturbed  wa- 
ters ;  there  will  be  ship-yards  and  flslicrics 
there,  and  to  these  lands  will  a  numerous  peo- 
ple ^o  to  dwell  and  to  mine,  beyond  a  pcrad- 
vonturc.  If  wo  imagine  such  things  will  not 
'  come  to  pass,  or  flatter  ourselves  that  we  can 
retard  tliem  by  our  silence  or  defeat  them  by 
our  opposition,  tho  sooner  we  disabuse  our 
minds  of  these  bcguilings  the  better.  Yet,  in 
all  these  aims  of  England,  so  bold,  Inr-reach- 
ing,  and  vast,  there  is  really  nothing  calculated 
to  excite  our  hostility  or  ulurra  our  fears  ; 
nothing  which  a  magnanimous  people  should 
deprecate,  or  a  young  and  enterprising  nation 
dread. 

Un  the  contrary,  this  opposition  is  the  very 
thing  which,  of  all  others,  we  most  need,  and 
which,  instead  of  proving  detrimental  to  our 
interehts,  would  serve  to  promote  thci^  in  a 
variety  of  ways.  Of  all  the  nations  on  the 
earth  we,  of  California,  are  suffering  the  most, 
from  the  want  of  a  stimulus  to  arouse  our  dor- 
mant energies — some  outside  pressure  to  terrify 
us  into  union  and  activity.  Separated  from  the 
older  communities,  with  their  schemes  of  in- 
ternal improvement  and  other  excitant  and 
energizing  agents  ;  penetrated  by  inert  masses 
of  savage  and  semi-barbarian  life,  and  sur- 
roubded  on  every  hand  by  peoples  of  low  intel- 
lectuality and  unaspiring  aims  ;  never  did  a 
State  so  much  need  the  stimulus  of  a  generous 
rivalry  as  ours.  Out  among  the  islands  we  en- 
counter an  enervated  and  decaying  race,  too 
poor  to  inflame  our  cupidity  and  too  imbecile 
to  provoke  opposition ;  while  stretched  along 
our  south  lies  poor,  ill-faring,  ill-fated  Mexico, 
likewise  dying,  and  too  far  gone  to  evoke  tho 
spirit  of  "  high  emprise,"  or  engender  a  feel- 
ing of  emulation  within  us;  too  far  gone  to  be 
useful,  even  as  an  antagonizing  agent,  and 
henceforth  to  serve  only  as  a  sort  of  territorial 
catacomb,  whence  may  be  dragged  a  carcass 
ever  as  required  by  that  false  sense  of  aggran-- 
dizement,  which  lusts  for  lands  without  citi- 
isens,  and  dominion  without  power. 

Thus  circum3tanced,we  are  fortunate  in  hav- 
ing a  rival  like  England  to  arouse  us  from  our 
torpidity,  to  stir  our  pride  and  spur  us  on  in 
the  noble  contest  fof  opulence  and  empire. 
Not  only  this,  but  the  settlement  of  tho.se  tcr- 
ritoritories  so  contiguous  to  our  own,  must 
speedily  inure  the  great  a;t  in  of  our  people 
by  furnishing  a  steady  and  lucrative  market 
for  almost  every  species  of  their  surplus  pro- 
ducts, especially  those  of  the  orchard,  the 
dairy  and  the  farm,8ince  neither  of  these  colonies 
will  be  able,  for  some  time  at  least,  to  supply 
their  own  inhabitants  with  these  staples.  In  a 
word,  whatever  brings  immigration  to  this 
coast  must  necessarily  advantage  California 
and  Oregon,  as  from  them  must  be  obtained 


the  breadHtufTH  and  other  prime  artlclei  necoi- 
iiiry  for  their  subsislance.  And  so,  again,  any 
largo  influx  of  minors  or  other  tranHient  per- 
sons drawn  this"  way,  whether  by  the  discovcrr 
of  gold,  or  other  attractions,  must.  In  tha  end, 
augment  the  population  of  (California,  ilnce  the 
manifest  superiority  of  her  soil  and  climate 
will  determine  many  of  them  to  seek  her  bor- 
ders when  contemplating  a  permanent  settle- 
ment. 

Wherefore,  view  it  as  we  may,  while  we 
should  adhere  strictly  to  facts  in  speaking  of 
the  resources  of  those  colonies,  and  abstain 
from  all  undue  ctfort  at  encouraging  emigra- 
tion thither,  it  little  behooves  tho  friends  of 
California  to  underrate  tho  advantages  of  her 
northern  ireighbor  or  seek  to  disparage  bar 
claims  in  tho  estimation  of  those  abroad.  It 
requires  but  an  ordinary  share  of  intelligence 
to  see  how  certainly  our  welfare  must  be  pro- 
moted by  her  growth,  and  how  intimately  our 
interosU  aro  connected  with  hers.  The  peo- 
pling of  her  territories  will  tend  to  populate 
ours  ;  tho  increase  of  her  aflluence  will  add  to 
our  wealth,  and  the  progress  of  her  people 
must  inevitably  react  on  our  own. 

But  however  we  may  regard  the  advent  of 
England  upon  our  shores,  or  whatever  estimate 
we  may  set  on  the  value  of  her  possessions  in 
this  quarter,  one  thing  is  certain,  we  have  aow 
got  to  meet  her  on  this  side  the  globe,  as  we 
have  met  her  on  the  other,  and  encountering 
her  enterprise  and  capital ;  her  practical,  pa- 
tient industry  and  persistence  of  purpose,  dis- 
pute with  her  for  the  trade, of  the  Bast  and 
the  empire  of  the  seas.  It  is  no  mean  stake  to 
play  for  tbiii  —a  traffic  which,  in  tha  middle 
ages  having  successively  enriched  the  com- 
mercial republics  of  Venice,  Genoa,  and  the 
towns  of  the  Ilanseatic,  at  a  later  period 
promoted  Spain  and  Holland  to  the  pinnacle  of 
maritime  greatness,  has  now  come  to  be  the 
subject  ot  tho  grandest  contest  recorded  in  the 
history  of  commercial  enterprise.  The  build- 
ing of  a  trans-continuntal  railroad,  like  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Cape,  will  divert  the  trade  of  tha 
Orient  into  a  now  channel,  scattering  affluence 
along  its  routo  and  ultimately  securing  politi- 
cal predominance  to  the  nation  who  shall  en- 
joy it.  Whore  it  runs  there  will  be  population, 
and  wealth  and  power  ;  there  will  be  cities  and 
workshops  and  cultivated  fields,  with  all  the 
glo.ious  attendants  of  civilizatiou  ;  and  where 
it  terminates  there  ivill  be  the  emporium  of  the 
Pacific — tho  permanent  metropolis  of  the  Oc- 
cidental world. 

If  England  shall  precede  us  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  this  work  she  will  have  gained  an 
advantage  which  wo  cannot  readily  overcome, 
and  which  mu-it  eventually  force  us  into  the 
rank  of  a  second  rate  power.  As  yet,  the  field 
is  clear,  and  we  have  a  lung  way  the  start,  yet 
all  these  advantage's  will  be  lost  if  we  longer 
waste  our  time  in  idle  dalliance,  or  suffer  our 
action  to  be  impeded  by  sectional  jealousi^a 
and  distracted  councils.  The  time  has  come 
for  harmonizing  our  differences'aud  dismiasing 


!\ 


\ 


ITS  son.,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  Ac. 


these  fe«'lir((H  of  diilriiHt — for  unitingour  rffortH 
•nd  entering  vigurougly  on  tliu  iiroKi'Ciiiiou  uf 
the  great  wurk  to  which  uur  dutjr  |)oiiii8,  and 
our  destiny  invites  us. 

I'OTY   or  Till    PHIBH. 

It  being  apparent,  then,  that  the  curly  sottle- 
nient  of  the  Krltinh  Provinces  on  tliis  coant, 
nnd  the  rapid  devi'lopmt'nt  of  thi-ir  refiourcvH, 
both  niAtcrial  ond  industriol,  cannot  fail  to  re- 
act beneficially  on  our  own  State,  policy  dic- 
tates that  wo  encourage  emigration  thitlicr  by 
every  convenient  and  laudabto  lueanH  in  our 
power.  TImt  the  newfipuper  press  prl't^rntll  tiic 
most  fit  and  available  agent  for  cfl'evting  that 
purpose,  by  broadly  diU'using  correct  intbrina- 
tion  in  regard  to  the  country  in  question,  niUHt 
be  obvious  to  all.  Hence,  the  accoinplishnient 
of  that  object  may  well  be  considered  a  part  of 
its  legitimate  duties,  since  it  will  tend  to  sub- 
serve the  interests  of  our  own  people  at  the 
same  time  that  it  vindicates  itself  against  the 
charge  of  dealing  unjustly  with  those  (Colo- 
nies, and  renders  a  good  service  to  the  world 
at  large.  Kven  if  the  favorable  accounts  thus 
promulgated  should  work  the  temporary  with- 
drawal of  a  k'w  thousand  people  from  our 
shores,  this  same  intelligence,  acting  on  the 
populous  conimnities  of  the  Atlantic  slope  and 
the  Old  World,  would  soon  uiorc  than  compen- 
sate for  that  loss — bringing  us  five,  perhaps, 
ultimately,  ten  inhabitants  to  supply  the  place 
of  every  one  so  nbistractcd.  Wherefore,  while 
it  can  hardly  be  said  the  journals  of  California 
have  generally  acted  unfairly  toward  this,  our 
first  competitor  for  population  and  commercial 
power  on  the  Pacific,  it  is  yet  to  be  hoped  that 
whatever  of  seeming  jealousy  may  bcretoforo 
have  been  manifested,  or  whatever  of  injustice 
may  have  been  unwittingly  done  her,  our  news- 
paper press,  acting  in  the  liberal  and  cutliolic 
spirit  of  the  age,  will  for  the  future  secure  our 
northern  neighbor  a  full  and  cundid  hearing  in 
their  columns. 

DKSCRIPTION  OF  THK   COIJNTKY. 

Before  proceeding  to  speak  of  the  gold  mines 
of  British  Columbia,  it  may  be  well,  ns  a  means 
of  illustrating  their  position  and  routes  of  ap- 
proach, to  present  a  brief  description  of  the 
geography  ana  natural  features  of  the  country 
in  which  they  arc  located. 

The  territory  constituting  what  is  now  the 
Province  of  British  Columbia,  lies  between 
the  49th  and  D7th  degrees  of  north  latitude, 
corresponding  in  area  with  what  was  formerly 
the  department  of  New  Caledonia.  Hy  the  late 
act  of  Parliament,  witbdra\ring  it  from  the  ju- 
risdiction of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and 
erecting  it  into  a  Colony,  it  is  bounded  as  fol- 
lows :  on  the  south,  by  the  frontiers  of  the 
United  States ;  on  the  east,  by  the  main  chain 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  on  the  north,  by 
Simpson's  river,  and  the  Finlay  branch  of  the 
Peace  river,  and  on  the  west,  by  the  Pacihc 
Ocean.  It  embraces  within  its  limits  Queen 
Charlotte's  Island,  and  all  the  other  islands 
adjacent  to  the  coaiit,  except  that  of  Vancouver. 
As  thus  bounded,  it  has  Washington  Territory 
on  its  southern,  and  the  department  of  New 


Cornwnll  on  its  northorn  border;  while  its 
western  is  skirted  by  the  witters  ofQnecn  Char- 
lotle's  tSound  and  the  (iulfof  (ieorgia,  which, 
with  their  numerous  canals  and  Inlets  deeply 
penetrating  the  main  land,  impart  to  the  coast 
a  very  irregular  outline.  As  will  appear,  fi-oni 
an  iiiHpcclion  of  its  limits,  BritiKh  (Columbia  is 
an  extensive  region,  lieing  nc:-ly  f)(~o  miles 
long,  from  north  to  south,  and  m)  wide,  thus 
containing  nearly  20U,U()0  S(|uiirc  miles,  one- 
tenth  more  land  than  the  State  uf  (Julifuriiia. 

MOUNTAINS. 

The  southern  and  middle  portions  of  this 
territory  are  generally  rugged,  being  crossed 
by  several  mountain  chains  of  considerable 
elevation  and  extent.  The  northern  part  is 
said  to  bo  more  level.  These  inountains, 
which  consist  mostly  of  the  Kocky,  Cascade 
and  Coast  Range,  with  their  various  .spurs,  arc 
so  raniiticd  and  difl'used  as  to  constitute  a  sin- 
gle group  rather  than  separate  riiiiges.  Their 
average  height  is  between  four  nnd  five 
thousand  feet,  though  many  of  the  peaks  are 
much  more  lofty.  Komeofthcin  lie  in  long 
ridges  consisting  of  shapeless  masses  of  rock  ; 
some  are  craggy,  precipitous  and  impending, 
while  others  shoot  up  in  splintered  spires,  or 
are  rounded  into  huge  domes  like  segments  of 
a  shattered  world.  The  lower  portions  of 
these  mountains  arc  covered  with  forests,  the 
higher  with  snow  the  entire  year,  which  melt- 
ing keeps  the  streams  heading  in,  or  running 
near  them  at  a  high  stage  until  late  in  the 
summer.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  grandeur  of 
these  snow-delds  as  seen  from  a  distance  on  a 
clear  day,  or  equal  their  loneliness  and  desola- 
tion as  impressed  on  the  mind  when  wo  come 
to  visit  them.  Viewed  from  the  trail  along  the 
deep  valleys,  they  are  apt  to  inspire  the  touri.'<t 
with  a  wish  to  explore  their  cold  and  lustrous 
solitudes.  A  single  day's  travel,  however, 
ucroxs  their  still  and  pathless  wastes  will  be 
very  likely  to  extinguish  that  feeling,  e.^necially 
if  the  journey  be  made  in  thin  clothes,  and  on 
short  rations,  as  the  writer's  experience  enables 
him  to  attest. 

RIVRRH. 

Kritish  Columbia  is  not  only  a  land  of  moun- 
tains, but  also  of  lakes  and  rivers,  the  latter 
being  numerous,  and  insomc  instances,  of  largo 
size.  Of  the  entire  number,  Krnser  river  is 
much  the  largest,  receiving,  in  fact,  the  waters 
of  nearly  all  the  others,  as  it  passes  longitudi- 
nally through  the  centre  of  the  entire  territory 
Its  principal  branches  beginning  at  its  mouwh 
are,  on  the  left  side,  Pitt,  Harrison,  Bridge, 
(vhillicoaten,  West-Road,  Stuart  and  Salmon  ; 
on  the  right,  Anderson,  Thompson, Quesnel  and 
Rough  Poplar.  It  has  besides,  a  vast  number 
of  smaller  tributaries,  many  of  which  are  swol- 
len into  considerable  streams  during  summer. 
Most  of  its  larger  branches  take  their  rise  in 
extensive  lakes  and  marshes  that  abound  near 
their  sources ;  the  smaller  chicflly  head  in  the 
mountains  and  are  fed  by  the  molting  snows. 

None  of  these  streams  afford  extended  facil- 
ities for  navigation,  except  the  Fraser,  which, 
at  a  stage  of  high  water,  can  be  ascended  by 


BRITISH  COLlJMniA, 


I'mlit  dmnjrht  Blrnrnprii  to  Port  Yale,  ft  point 
110  iiiilt'8  'ibdve  its  inoiilli.  llitrriHoii  river  cjin, 
undor  lil<t)  ciri'tiinstHiu'i'H,  lie  aitcendecl  to  lliir- 
rlion  l.ulic,  li  dinliiiicc  of  ten  iiiile'4  Troin  its 
JuDclioi)  Willi  the  KriiAiT,  MiuuriiiK  xtetimbuHt 
iiaviKiitlon  on  tliut  route,  liy  nirnnNoniio  river 
and  liikc,  for  over  flfly  miloH.  Smull  ntcaniorg 
euuld  i\\»o  run  on  tlio  Frii»cr  lictwccn  tli« 
Upper  ('iinon  iind  Tliouipsoii'ii  Fork,  n  ntrelrli 
of  twfnt>-livc  or  tliirly  miles.  Tlio  ujipcr  por- 
tions of'tliiH  river,  however,  ns  well  us  nearly 
all  tliu  olliers  tliruugliout  the  territory,  gener- 
ally (low  will)  >i  HlronK  eiirrent,  broken  in 
mitny  plnrrs  liy  fulls  and  riipidx,  nnd  hence  lue 
little  uditpted  to  Hteiunlioiit  nuvi((ution. 

I.AKKH. 

Drltlth  Colunilila  is  in  every  pnrt  thickly 
Rluddcd  with  hikes,  some  of  them  of  eonciiler- 
ablo  miiKuitude,  iind  ncnrly  all  remarkable  for 
their  great  deptli  of  water,  a  feature  traceable 
no  doubt,  as  i>  ((enerjil  thin);,  to  the  abrupt 
character  of  the  mountains  in  which  they  are 
imbosoined.  8omc  of  even  the  smaller  have 
l>cen  sounded  to  a  depth  of  400  feet  without 
finding  bottom.  In  shape,  they  are  usually 
long  and  narrow,  and  in  several  instances  lie 
in  chains  linked  by  connecting  streams  along 
decn  depressions,  to  all  appearance  the  beds  of 
former  rivers.  Somcof  Miesc  lakes  arc  between 
fifty  and  sixty  miles  long,  and  from  eight  to 
ten  broad.  The  water  is  cold  Iho  year  round, 
and,  fcr  the  most  part,  exceedingly  dear.  To 
this,  however,  there  arc  exceptions,  ns,  for  ex- 
ample, the  I/ilooet,  the  colorof  which  ia  a  dirly 
green,  cau?ed  probably  by  its  feeders  running 
over  a  species  of  aigillaceous  cnrtli,  that  im- 
parts to  the  water  its  turbid  appearance.  A 
few  of  the  smaller  arc  somewhat  alkaline,  but 
not  to  a  dcgrf^e  tliiit  forbids  their  use.  During 
the  summer  months  salmon  of  an  excellent 
quality  'ibo\ind  in  both  the  rivers  and  lakas, 
and  form  the  principal  food  of  the  natives,  who 
take  them  in  large  quantities,  consuming  what 
they  require  while  fresh,  and  curing  the  balance 
for  winter  use.  The  salmon  season  extends 
from  June  to  October. 

CLIHATR. 

The  climate  of  the  I'aciflc  coast,  as  is  well 
known,  is  no  wliere  so  severe  in  the  same  par- 
allel of  latitn<1e  as  that  of  the  Atlantic,  the 
dilTerenc^  varying  from  15  to  20  degrees — that 
«,  we-  have  to  go  some  1,200  miles  further 
north  on  the  Atlantic  side  of  the  continent  to 
find  a  mean-winter  temperature  corre.oponding 
to  that  on  the  Pacific  side.  And  though  the 
climate  of  British  Columbia  forms  no  excep- 
tion to  this  rule,  it  is  somewhat  varied,  certain 
belts  of  country  being  warm  and  dry,  while 
others  arc  moist  and  of  a  more  equitable  tem- 
perature. Thus  we  hav  a  district  extending 
from  the  mouth  of  Eraser  river  inland  about 
150  miles  characterized  by  a  humid  climate, 
and  in  which  the  thermometer  of  Fahrenheit 
rarely  falls  below  ten  or  rises  above  ninety  de- 
grees in  the  course  of  the  year.  Throughi  -i* 
this  region  rain  is  abundant  during  the  sprin  ■ 
summer  and  autumn,  falling  not  onljr  in  fre- 


qtient  idiowrrs,  but  rnntinuing  sometimes  for 
several  '^\yn  together.  Know  oUo  tails  hcfK 
in  tne  winter  fri.m  one  Id  two  feet,  often  mor* 
in  the  norlheru  part  of  tho  district,  tliough 
hardly  so  much  near  the  sea.  It  is  not  apt  to 
lay  more  than  a  week  or  two  at  u  lime,  it  then 
melting  and  the  ground  remaining  bare  for  • 
like  interval,  to  bo  again  KUccecded  b?  iin- 
other  fall,  and  so  on  throughout  tho  winter, 
which  general'y  brenks  up  in  the  early  part 
of  Marrli,  The  damp  ami  cluiidy  weather  here 
prevalent  during  the  Nunimcr  prevents  the  heat 
reaching  so  high  a  point  asf  irtlicr  in  the  inte- 
rior. When  I'le  atmosphere  is  clear  heavy 
dews  fall  at  night,  and  togs  at  all  seasons  of 
tho  year  are  common. 

Meyond  this  wet  section  of  country,  the 
northern  limits  of  which  crosses  the  Idlooctt 
route  ill  the  vicinity  of  Anderson's  lake,  and 
the  Fraser  bilween  the  Uper  (,'aflon  and  the 
Forks,  lies  a  district  of  about  equal  breuJth, 
cliarnrtcri/.ed  by  greater  heat  and  aridity,  and 
which  though  situate  further  north  and  gene- 
rally more  elavated,  is  scHr(  ely  any  colder  in 
the  winter,  and  has  even  less  snow  llinii  ttie 
country  further  south  along  the  lower  Fraser. 
North  of  this,  iigaiii,  is  another  belt  having  a 
more  humiil  climate,  sl.'<wers  being  frequent 
in  Ihesiimmer,  and  the  winters  somewhatmorn 
rigorous. 

Taken  ultogctlier  then,  the  climate  of  British 
Columbia  though  subject  to  much  Huetuation, 
and  'arying  with  locality,  cannot  be  consider- 
ed one  of  grea»,  severity,  neither  tho  heat  of 
summer  nor  the  cold  of  winter  reaching  such 
extremes  ns  in  Canada,  or  the  northern  States 
of  the  Union.  As  evidence  on  this  point,  it 
may  be  stated  that  the  snow  tlong  the  valleys 
of  tho  Upper  Fraser  and  its  tributaries,  rarely 
ever  exceeds  eighteen  inches  in  depth,  ond 
for  tho  most  part  does  not  even  reach  six 
inches,  while  a  great  portion  of  the  time  there 
is  none  at  all  on  tho  ground  during  winter. 
The  larger  lakes  never  freeze  over,  nor  does 
the  Fraser  or  other  large  streams  ever  close 
entirely  np.  Stock  is  able  to  subsist  on  tho 
bunch  grass  throughout  the  winter,  and  even 
work  animals  keep  in  tolerable  condition  on 
the  rushes  that  grow  in  the  bottoms  without 
rthci  feed.  On  the  divides  and  morn  elevated 
places,  the  depth  of  snow  as  well  as  the  degree 
of  cold,  depends  of  course  on  the  height  of  the 
locality ;  the  traveller  encountering  snow  in 
some  places  he  may  have  to  pass,  twice  as  deep 
as  that  found  in  the  valleys  There  was  no 
snow  or  frost  of  any  consequence  on  the  Upper 
Fraser  river  last  year,  until  about  the  first  of 
December,  when  the  weather  suddenly  became 
cold,  the  snow  falling  to  a  depth  of  five  or  six 
inches,  and  even  a  foot,  on  the  lower  part  of 
the  river.  Tho  smaller  streams  and  the  ditches 
at  the  same  time  became  covered  with  ice,  and 
the  ground  froze  to  the  depth  of  several  inches, 
interfering  seriously  with,  and  for  the  most 
part  putting  a  stop  to  mining  operations.  This 
weather  aner  continuing  for  two  or  three 
I  weeks,  moderated,  and  (or  the  next  fiva  weeks 


ITS  SOIL,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  Ac. 


but  little  mow  TpII,  while  the  thermometpr  in 
two  or  throe  iniitntK  ei  onljr,  went  l)clnw  20  iIp- 
Kreei,  fluctuating  between  tliut  point  and  4ri 
degrrei. 

After  tliinmild  period  Rnnin  Another  Npell  of 
cold  ftnd  vuryinif  wcnthor,  tvliicli  iield  for  three 
or  four  weelca,  wlien  tlie  enow  iind  ice  moHtl)' 
diiappearcd,  and  the  Indiund  leuvinft  their 
winter  hiiiiHos,  dccliirnd  tliut  Huimon  at  an  end. 

The  niinvrH  niao  ^ot  to  work  in  their  nhtiiim, 
and  have  not  lince  horn  interrupted.  Tlii*  wiih 
earl/  in  the  month  of  March,  since  wliicli 
time  the  wciitlicr  Iium  been  connluntly  ({rowing; 
warmer,  the  tliurmometer  havin;<  fiiilen  but  u 
'ew  timPH  bi'iow  the  frecKinf^  point.  During 
M'irch  the  wcntlier  wait  Hhowory,  with  noniu 
«light  froHte  and  fulle  of  Hnow  in  the  early  part 
of  the  month, 

Much  the  Hnmc  kind  of  ulimnte  a8  above  do- 
«cribed,  prevails  throughout  the  regions  lying 
between  and  bordering  on  the  Kuniluops  aiid 
(Ireat  Okinagan  lakvM,  as  well  ai  tho  ext<'ngivc 
diHlricta  to  the  north  and  oael. 
Hon.. 

About  thj  mouth  of  Fraser  river,  and  extend- 
ing up  that  river  forty  or  fifty  riiiU!.s,th"  country 
\n  moNtly  level  and  somewhat  Bwiiinpy,  V/ith 
the  exception  of  a  few  smal!  ''rairics,  and  some 
inconaideralile  clearings  near  Fort  Langley,  it 
ie  covered  with  a  dense  and  heavy  growth  ol 
timber,  as  are  also  the  adjacent  mountains  as 
high  as  the  limit  of  vegetation,  above  which 
they  are  clad  with  perpetual  snow.  The  lower 
portions  of  this  tiat  land  near  the  mouth  of  the 
river  are  nothing  but  an  extended  marsh,  being 
overflowed  by  ttie  tides  and  the  stream  at  itH 
higher  8ta(;cs,  and  from  the  tall  thick  growth 
of  flags  with  which  they  are  covered  stroncly 
reriemble  the  tule  lands  of  California.  The 
soil  of  the  prairies  and  dryer  parts,  consists  of 
a  black  vegetable  mold,  being  warm  and  fer- 
tile and  capable  of  producing  abundantly  of 
vegetables  and  ceretls,  os  the  spots  about  Fort 
Langley,  cultivated  for  many  years  to  grain 
and  potatoes,  amply  prove.  In  places,  how- 
ever, there  is  rather  too  largo  an  admixture  of 
sand  with  a  substratum,  of  gravel  and  decom- 
posed granite,  causing  the  soil  to  loach  and 
thus  readily  part  with  its  fertilizing  properties. 
The  prairies  are  covered  with  rank  grass  from 
which  the  Company  have  *-  "n  in  the  habit  of 
making  hay  for  their  wintf     asc. 

On  the  southern  limit  of  tl '  -  flat  country  and 
lying  partly  on  either  side  of  the  line,  is  the 
Hmess  prairie,  of  great  fertility  and  considera- 
ble extent, which,togMher  with  the  Chilliwhaick 
and  hI!<o  the  Lilooett  meadows  at  the  head  of 
Ijilooett  lake,  will  hereafter  claim  a  more  par- 
ticular notice  as  constituting  the  most  valuable 
portions  of  the  district  under  consideration. 

In  passing  north  we  next  come  to  the  country 
of  the  Upper  Eraser,  with  its  dry  climate,  fer- 
tile bottoms,  table  lands  and  prairies  covered 
with  bunch  grass  and  scattered  pine  trees. 
Here  there  is  a  great  deal  of  good  land,  equally 
fit  for  gardening  and  farming  with  an  unlimit- 
ed amount  of  pasturage,  grass  growing  every- 


where, even  to  the  tops  of  the  mountains.  Th« 
only  drawback  to  the  succrsHlui  unltivation 
of  the  toil  in  this  region  would  be  the  drouth, 
which  might  render  irrigation  iii^cuHHary  except 
in  the  more  moiNt  and  fertile  botluuis.  Thai 
much  of  the  soil  is  sutlicienily  rich  in 
itself  to  produce  good  crops,  admit*  of  no 
doubt,  yet  to  insure  that  result  irrigation,  for 
which  there  are,  loi'tunatoly,  great  facilitiex, 
might,  in  many  canes,  be  required.  The  same 
remark  will  prubiibly  apply  with  equal  forte 
to  the  vast  region  cast  of  tiio  Cuseado  itungc, 
where,  it  is  admitted,  there  iiru  largo  bodies 
of  land  possessing  a  very  prolific  soil,  and  sup- 
plying exceedingly  de.iiruble  places  fur  settle- 
ment. 

8CKNKIIV. 

The  scenery  in  almont  every  part  of  Hritish 
Columbia  is  unique,  bold  ami  iuiprciisive,  while 
in  some  sections  it  assumrs  an  aspect  of  wild 
and  gloomy  grandeur.  Vast  mountains,  cleft 
to  the  bese  by  hidcouii  fissures,  gigantic  for- 
ests tangled  with  undergrowth,  sullen  lake« 
shaded  by  lofty  cliffy  and  skirted  bysedgy  fen- 
lands,  sunless  valleys,  arid  plains  and  rolling 
praries,  majestiu  rivers,  cuscadcs,  snow-peakx, 
precipices  and  foaming  lorr^nts  form  some  of 
the  prominent  featuies  of  the  scenery  every- 
where met  with.  To  the  eant  of  the  Cascade 
range  the  scenery  is  lens  striking  and  varied 
than  elsewhere,  though  scarttely  less  attractive, 
the  country  abounding  in  fertile  bottoms, 
watered  by  numerous  wood-fringed  streams, 
and  in  high  praries  covered  with  grass  and 
flowers  and  a  scanty  growth  of  trees.  The 
same  description  of  soil  and  scenery  applies 
to  the  valley  of  Salmon  river,  and  all  the 
southern  tributaries  of  Thomp.son'i  Fork,  as 
well  an  to  the  region  about  Lalie  Sushwap  and 
the  great  Ukinagnn.  In  going  north  on  the  Up- 
per Frascr  and  its  branches,  some  variation  in 
the  landscape  is  observable ;  the  plains  are 
narrower  and  the  mountain  sides  more  wall- 
like  ;  springs  and  streams  are  more  frequent, 
and  timber  more  plentiful,  the  hills  beingoften 
well  wooded,  and  the  praries  embossed  with 
clumps  of  trees.  A  novel  •nd  highly  pictur- 
esque feature  is  here  presented  in  the  terraced 
banks  and  park-like  parterres  running'  for 
miles  along  the  dcep-chusmed  Fraser.  Noth- 
ing can  surpass  the  beauty  of  these  table  lands 
rising  in  regular  gradations,  often  three  or  four 
tier  high,  and  extending  back  a  great  distance, 
iheir  slopes  as  even  and  their  angles  as  pharp 
as  if  they  had  been  shaped  by  the  hand  of  man. 
Indeed,  it  is  hard  to  believe,  in  view  of  their 
uniform  declivity  and  clean  cut  edges,  that 
something  of  art  has  not  been  employed  in 
laying  them  out,  or  governing  their  consCruc- 
tion. 

In  truth,  there  is  scarce  any  part  of  this  ter- 
ritory in  which  even  the  untutored  eye  fails  to 
detect  something  calculated  to  awaken  pleas- 
urable emotions ;  some  object  in  nature  ap- 
pealing to  our  appreciation  of  the  beatiful  and 
vast.  The  snow  cones,  when  the  sky  is  clear, 
are  especially  fitted  to  arrest  the  attention  and 


V 


8 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


challenge  the  itdrn'rotion  of  even  the  most 
itolid  arid  proeaic.  Cold,  pure  and  sky-pierc- 
ing, the  nearest,  though  afar  off,  seem  strangely 
present,  while  the  more  distant,  as  they  recede 
farther  and  further,  fade  into  cloud-like  pavil- 
ions scarce  distinguishable  from  the  atmos- 
phere into  which  they  seem  about  to  dis.  olve. 
Hardl..'  less  grand,  and  evem  more  attractive, 
are  the  water-falls  often  met  with  in  the  moun- 
tainous districts.  Sometimes  these  have  a 
perpendicular  fall  of  a  hundred  feet  or  more  ; 
sometimes  they  rush  down  the  mountain  sidtts 
in  a  straight  shoot  two  or  three  thousand  fe  V,. 
the  water  so  dashed  into  foam  that  it  reseir- 
bles  long  frills  of  drifted  snow,  or  wavy  threads 
of  silver.  Occasionally  there  are  startling 
sounds  as  well  as  strange  sights  to  arrest  the 
attention  of  the  traveler  in  these  solitudes.  At 
times  a  heavy  sound  like  buried  thunder  may 
be  heard  issuing  from  the  cavernouB  gates,  and 
resounding  through  tue  chambers  of  the  mouii- 
taias.  It  is  an  avalanche  or  land-slide,  things 
not  unfrequent  when  the  snow  melts  aud  the 
frost  leaves  the  ground  nn  the  approach  of 
warm  weather.  Taken  altogether,  the  scenery 
of  British  Columbia  is  exceedingly  picturesque, 
varied  and  majestic,  affording  a  rich  and  am- 
ple field  for  the  'explorations  of  the  tourist,  as 
well  as  the  inquiries  of  the  tavant  and  the  study 
of  the  urtist,  some  of  whom  have  already 
sought  it  in  the  prosecution  of  their  researches 
and  the  exercise  of  their  calling. 

8ALCBRITV. 

That  the  climate  of  Vancouver's  Island,  as 
well  as  of  the  main  land,  is  extremely  favor- 
able to  health  is  pretty  well  established  by  the 
experience  of  the  large  number  who  visited 
that  section  last  year ;  as  also  by  the  testimony 
of  the  old  residents,  nearly  all  of  whom  have 
been  remarkably  exempt  from  disease.  Not- 
withstanding the  hardship,  deprivation  and 
exposure  to  which  thousands  of  the  Fraser 
river  adventurers  were  subjected,  and  the 
severe  labor  they  were  called  upon  lo  perform, 
there  was  very  little  sickness  amongst  them, 
while  the  deaths  from  disease  ^ere  almost 
none  at  all.  When  it  is  considered  that  these 
men  were,  r.s  a  general  thing,  very  unfavorably 
situated  for  the  preservation  of  health — many 
of  them  proceeding  to  the  mines  in  oi-en  boats, 
crossing  a  stormy  gulf  in  their  passage,  toil- 
ing up  rapid  streams  week  after  week,  en- 
camping on  the  damp  ground,  almost  con- 
stantly wet  from  the  falling  rains,  or  wading 
in  ice-cold  water,  exhausted  with  dragging 
their  boats  up  rapids,  or  making  portages 
round  falls;  of^en  annoyed  by  Indians,  and 
not  uafrequently  suffering  from  insufficiency 
o^food — it  speaks  well  for  the  sanitary  charac- 
ter of  the  climate  that  they  should  have  expe- 
rienced such  8.  general  immunity  from  sickuess 
and  disease.  Not  only  so,  but  these  men, 
with  scarcely  an  exception,  increased  largely 
in  flesh  at  tie  very  time  they  were  being  sub- 
jected to  these  deprivations  and  toils — adding 
to  their  weight  beyond  precedent,  and  enjoying 
more  robust  health  than  ever  before.  It  was 
no  uncommon  thing  to  hear  men  boast  of  this 


ip'"'«!ment,  which  in  some  cases,  was  really 
qait>  extraordinary. 

Tb«  circumstances  under  which  the  first 
emigration  to  Fraser  river  took  place,  were 
certainly  as  little  conducive  to  health  as  those 
attending  the  early  settlement  of  the  Califor- 
nia mines,  vet  the  proportional  amount  of 
sickness  in  the  two  cases,  shows  greatly  to  our 
disadvantage — the  difference  being  as  three  to 
one  against  us. 

The  most  fVequent  cause  of  ailment  in 
British  Columbia  has,  thus  far,  been  rhnma- 
tism ;  apparently  the  only  endemic  disease  as 
yet  developed  in  the  country;  though  it  does 
seem  a^little  strange  that  fever  and  ague  should 
scarcely  be  known,  though  there  is  much 
overflowed  and  marshy  land,  pro(^uctive  of 
those  miasmatic  exhalations  on  the  presence 
of  which  this  malady  is  dependent.  That  this 
maleria  is  so  little  virulent  is  probably  owing 
to  the  fact  that  the  district  where  it  most  pre- 
vails, is  situate  near  salt  water,  being  thus 
influenced  by  the  sea  breezes  and  the  tides. 
But  whatever  the  cause,  it  is  undeniable  that 
the  climate  of  British  Columbia  is  both  invig- 
orating and  salubrious,  and  one  to  which  the 
immigrant  may  repair  with  as  little  apprehen- 
sion as  to  any  other  on  the  coast,  or  perhaps 
any  other  on  the  face  of  the  globe. 

INUIANB. 

The  native  races  dwelling  in  the  territory 
of  British  Columbia,  although  resembling  each 
other  in  their  physical  appearance  and  other 
leading  characteristics,  indic'ting  identity  of 
origin,  are  still  divided  into  numerous  tribes, 
each  having  a  distinct  name,  and  for  the  most 
part,  speaking  a  different  language.  In  some 
instances  they  seem  to  have  been  grouped  into 
larger  communities  or  confederations,  having 
the  same  appellation,  being  that  perhaps  of  the 
most  powerful  or  influential  of  their  number.  In 
other  cases  names  have  been  supplied  them  by 
the  whites,  but  which,  suggested  often  by 
mere  caprice  or  accident,  do  not  appear  to  have 
been  recognized  very  fully  by  thvi  aborigines 
themselves.  Thus  the  term  Carrier  was  ap- 
plied at  an  early  day  to  the  tribes  living  along 
the  upper  Fraser;  and  still  later  the  word 
Couleau  was  used  to  designate  not  only  the 
inhabitants,  but  also  the  couniiy  further 
south ;  it  being  a  corruption  of  the  Indian 
Nieoutximeen,  the  name  of  a  numerous  tribe  on 
the  lower  Fraser,  and  which  from  its  resem- 
blance to  the  Fi-ench,  eouteau,  a  knife,  was 
readily  converted  into  that  tern?  by  the  voy- 
ageurs.  The  application  of  a  word  of  such  san- 
guinary signiticance  to  this  people,  was  some- 
what mat  appropo,  since,  as  would  seem,  they 
were  rathe  distinguished  for  theirpacific  pro- 
clivities, tl  a  otherwise.  At  best,  there  would 
appear  to  have  been  much  confusion  in  the 
manner  of  naming  these  tribes,  scarce  two 
authorities  agreeing  as  to  the  title  by  which 
any  particular  portion  of  them  should  be 
known,  or  the  precise  limit*  of  their  'territo- 
rial possessions.  Some  writers  have  made  the 
entire  number  of  people  occupying  this  region 
to  consist  of     'o  great  natioDS ;  tho  Takali 


ITS  SOIL,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  Ac. 


0 


really 

first 

were 

those 

^alifor- 

unt  of 

to  our 

hree  to 


) 


■\ 


or  Carriers,  at  the  north,  and  the  Atnahs  or 
Sushiwaps  further  south.  Some  have  divided 
them  into  Ghilcotins,  Kuz  Lakes,  Naskotins, 
Talkotins  and  Atnahs  or  Chin  Indians.  While 
others  have  dosiKnated  them  by  dtill  different 
names,  or  assigned  to  them  boundaries  widely 
diverse.  Froci  all  which  it  is  evident  their 
tribal  limits  are  illy  defined,  and  their  geo- 
graphical nomenclature  sufficiently  crude  and 
nnscttled. 

To  account  for  this  conf^ision  and  illustrate 
how  these  territorial  boundaries  may  be  made 
to  suff'er  a  nominal  expansion,  a  case  of  recent 
occunence  might  be  cited  as  in  point.  The 
Lilooett|  nation,  once  powerful,  but  now  re- 
duced to  a  few  hundred  persons,  having  given 
their  name  to  a  lake  and  river  near  their  vil- 
lage, the  samn  came  afterwards  to  be  applied 
to  the  new  rv>ute  opened  by  Government  along 
these  watsrs,  and,  finally  to  the  country  adja- 
cent, until  at  present  the  whole  region  is  in 
popular  parlance  termed  the  Lilooett,  and  it  is 
common  to  hear  both  whites  and  Indians 
speak  of  going  to  the  Liloottt,  when  perhaps 
they  simply  mean  the  terminus  of  the  Trail, 
or  other  point  far  distant  from  the  home  of 
that  people.  Extended  inquiry,  however,  into 
this  branch  of  knowledge,  could  hardly  prove 
profitable,  since  the  Indian  notions  on  the  sub- 
ject are  quite  as  crude  and  indefinite  as  those 
of  the  whites.  Nor  is  it  at  all  a  matter  of 
practical  moment,  since  in  addressing  these 
races,  it  will  be  found  a  sufficient  lingual  at- 
tainment to  have  mastered  the  terms  "Siwash" 
and  "Clootchman,"  these  being  well  under- 
stood by  all,||and  as  likely  to  insure  attention 
as  words  expressive  of  individual  or  national 
entity. 

Each  village,  or  trib;,  isii,ov:rnedby  a  T)/het, 
or  chief,  whose  authority,  though  rather  arbi- 
trary, does  not  seem  to  be  very  extended  or 
well  defined,  being  asnf>uch  dependant  on  per- 
sonal prowess  and  wealth,  as  on  any  fixed  rules 
or  hereditary  rights.  The  amount  of  property 
possessed  by  these  Sagamores,  such  as  canoes, 
horses,  blankets,  guns,  wives,  slaves,  etc., 
mostly  determines  the  extent  of  their  influence, 
and  consequent  authority,  not  only  with  their 
own  people  but  al&o  with  their  neighbors.  By 
the  same  rule  is  measured  the  degree  of  honor 
to  be  awarded  them  after  death.  Besides  these 
leading  men,  there  are  Siteum  Ti/he.ea,  or  half 
chiefs,  who  aid  the  principals  in  the  di{"  harge 
of  their  duties,  or  act  for  them  in  their  absence. 

A  fierce  spirit  of  animosity  prevails  amongst 
many  of  these  tribes;  a  feeling  that  formerly 
manifested  itself  in  sanguinary  wars,  wherein 
whole  Communities  were  cut  off  or  reduced  to 
slavery.  Since  the  presence  of  the  whites 
amongst  them,  this  hostility  has  been  so  far 
restrained  as  to  cpend  itself  for  the  most  part 
in  private  feuds,  murders  and  petty  skirmishes, 
with  occasional  forays  on  a  weaker  neighbor, 
often  attended  with  circumstances  of  treachery 
and  cruelty,  and  almost  always  conducted  in  a 
manner  reflecting  unfavorably  on  the  magnan- 
imity and  courage  of  the  party  assailant.     To 


pretend,  however,  that  these  Indians  a^-e  any 
worse,  or  to  claim  that  they  are  any  better  ihan 
like  races  elsewhere,  or  to  say  tber'  is  ai.y 
more  ^rany  less  virtue  and  intelligence  extant 
amongst  them,  would  be  disingenuous,  ondiir- 
gue  an  ignorance  of  savage  life  generally.  As 
with  similar  types  of  men  elsewhere,  their  vir- 
tues are  few  and  teeble.  their  vices  multiplied 
and  invetei'iite — appetite  being  apt  to  predomi- 
nate over  the  sense  of  right,  and  passion  over 
reason  ;  yet  thry  are  by  no  means  a  dangerous 
people  to  dwell  amongst,  or  a  difficult  one  to 
manage,  as  the  success  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  in  their  dealings  with  them  fully 
shows.  The  tribes  about  K&mloops  and  on  the 
upper  Fraser,  even  to  the  far  north,  are  espe- 
cially honest,  intelligent  and  tractable,  and 
withal,  generally  well  disposed  towards  the 
whites.  They  are  also  physically  greatly  the 
superiors  of  the  tribeb  further  south,  being 
much  more  athletic  and  i^ell  formed.  Their 
features,  too,  are,  8'  a  general  thing,  more  re- 
gular and  prominent,  some  of  them  having  a 
contour  of  face  highly  classical ;  a  circum- 
stance lees  attributable,  perhaps,  to  any  ori- 
ginal superiority  of  the  race,  than  to  the  pres- 
ence of  the  whites  amongst  them.  Indeed,  it 
is  well  known  that  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  at 
an  early  period  in  the  colonial  history  of 
Canada,  in  their  zeal  to  propagate  the  tenets  of 
the  church,  penetrated  to  the  remotest  parts  of 
the  contincntjcarrying  their  religion  far  beyond 
the  limits  of  civilization,  and  planting  it  on  the 
distant  banks  of  the  Saskatchawan  and  the 
Fraser.  Here  for  years,  secluded  from  the 
world,  these  holy  men  Isborcd  with  results  so 
beneficial  to  the  spiritual  and  material  nature 
of  their  neophytes  as  have  led  the  devout  to 
cauonize  them  for  their  self-denying  toil,  and 
the  physiologist  to  infer  that  the  Good  Fathers 
had  impressed  somethingof  their  own  physical  , 
lineaments  on  these  rude  children  of  the  wil- 
derness, while  seeking  ).o  engraft  the  shoots  of 
evangelical  truth  on  their  simple  faith. 

The  extent  to  which  the  efforts  of  these 
early  heralds  of  the  Gospel  were  successful,  is 
evinced  not  only  in  the  somewhat  improved 
morality  of  these  northern  tribes,  but  also  by 
the  extent  of  their  knowledge  of  the  cardinal 
doctrines,  and  their  familiarity  with  the  ccri- 
■onial  observances  of  the  church.  The  stran- 
ger is  surprised  on  falling  in  with  these  people 
to  find  them  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  in 
token  of  their  Christian  belief,  while  kneeling, 
genuflexion  and  the  murmuring  of  set  prayers 
are  practiced  on  every  befitting  occasion.  Tlie 
crucifix  is  universally  regarded  as  an  object  oi 
veneration,  and  it  is  related  by  the  voyagtum 
who  have  penetrated  far  into  the  interior,  thut 
it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  find  rude  crbs  ea 
)  a'.nted  on  the  lodges  and  deserted  huts,  or 
rut  on  the  trees  in  those  distant  wilds,  to  which 
the  natives  bow  in  daily  adoration,  paying 
them  genuine  homage  as  the  emblems  of  a 
higher  and  better  fiith,  taught  them  by  men 
who  came  to  benefit  and  blesi,  instead  of 
cheat  and  despoil  them,  as  has  since  too  often 


10 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


been  the  practice  of  the  whites.  As  evidence 
of  the  progress  made  by  these  people,  not  in 
the  mere  rituals  only,  but  also  in  the  essential 
doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion,  as  well  as 
of  their  generally  enlightened  notions  of 
morality  and  justice,  an  incident  may  be  ad- 
duced that  occurred  at  the  Fountain  in  Jan 
nary  last :  An  Indian,  belonging  to  the  vil- 
lage at  that  place,  having  committed  a  trifling 
offence,  fled  to  the  north,  taking  refuge  with  a 
powerful  tribe,  governed  by  a  chief  named 
Ouillaume,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Alex- 
ander. This  personage,  whose  authority  is 
very  extended,  bising  recognized  in  a  general 
way  by  most  of  the  tribes  north  of  the  Foun- 
tain, and  who  had  already  beard  of  the  diffi- 
culties between  the  Indians  and  the  whites  the 
preceding  summer,  instead  of  screening  the 
fugitive  by  affording  the  coveted  protection, 
had  him  arrested,  and  setting  out  with  a 
numerous  re.tinue,  brought  him  in  mid-winter 
all  the  way  to  the  Fountain,  a  distance  of 
nearly  two  hundred  miles,  where  he  delivered 
him  into  the  charge  of  Alexander  YacCrcUish, 
then  an  official  at  that  place. 

This  gentleman,  in  view  of  the  trifling 
nature  of  the  alleged  offence,  handed  the 
accused  over  f  >  his  own  people,  to  be  dealt 
with  as  they  might  see  fit.  A  council  having 
been  called,  and  the  case  examined,  the  pris- 
oner was  found  guilty,  and  condemned  to  be 
publicly  whipped,  a  sentence  that  was  forth- 
with carried  into  effect.  This  species  of  pun- 
ishment is  one  of  which  the  Indian  has  a 
special  dread,  not  so  much  for  the  physical 
pain  attending  as  the  social  degradation  at- 
taching to  its  infliction.  After  receiving  it, 
the  culprit,  unlcoa  previously  rendered  insensi- 
ble to  shame,  is  apt  to  avoid,  for  the  time  be- 
ing, the  society  of  bis  fellows,  and  withdraw- 
ing, sit  apart,  bowed  down  with  a  sense  of 
humiliation.  From  the  stigma  of  his  disgrace 
he  is  not  readily  relieved,  unless  restored  to 
good  ctanding  at  the  time  by  those  who  have 
decreed  his  punishment — an  act  of  clemency 
frequently  extended  to  the  culprit  on  his  mani- 
festing a  due  degree  of  contrition,  coupled 
with  the  promise  of  amendment.  Our  hero  on  this 
occasion,  having  placbd  himself  in  this  category, 
was  graciously  reinstated  by  the  considerutb 
and  kind  hearted  GuiUaume,  who  had  just*be- 
fore  passed  sentence  upon  him.  The  act  of  grace 
was  conducted  as  follows  ; — A  bountiful  feast 
having  been  prepared — the  supplies  generously 
donated  by  Mr.  MacCrellish — all  the  prin- 
cipal men  were  gathered  about  the  board,  after 
which,  a  blessing  having  been  invoked  in  true 
Christian  style,  the  transgressor  was  beckoned 
to  draw  near.  This  he  did,  approaching  on 
his  knees,  when  the  old  Chief,  placing  his 
hands  on  the  rcpentant's  head,  kindly  soothed 
his  sorrow  and  quitcd  hie  sobs,  whispering  to 
him  in  the  meantime  wurds  of  consolation  and 
encouragement,  and  finally  imploring  the  aid 
of  the  Great  Spirit  to  strengthen  his  good  reso- 
lutions, pronounced  a  benediction,  declared 
his  forgiveness,  and  invited  him  to  partake  of 
the  repast,  a  privilege  denied  other  attendants. 


From  the  above,  it  will  be  seen  that  them 
people,  however  we  may  call  them  savages,  or 
treat  them  as  such,  are  by  no  means  deficient 
in  the  religious  sentiment,  or  ignorant  of  the 
code  of  Christian  ethics.  It  is  not  alwaj'S  that 
criminal  cases  are  adjudicated  with  so  much 
good  sense  as  in  the  example  just  recited;  nor 
is  it  every  tribunal  that  so  effectually  attains 
the  true  aims  of  punishment,  while  it  so  fully 
vindicates  the  claims  of  justice.  Indeed,  a 
finer  instance  of  well  directed  benevolence — of 
the  rigor  of  law,  tempered  with  merited  cle- 
mency, is  not  often  met  with.  Nor  would  it  be 
easy  to  find,  even  within  the  pale  of  civilized 
life,  one  endowed  with  more  native  goodness, 
or  whom  wo  would  so  instinctively  trust,  as 
this  same  unschooled  Chief  of  the  Carrier  Na- 
tion. When  looking  into  his  calm  and  benig- 
nant face,  one  can  hardly  believe  that  the  la- 
bors of  the  contemned  and  world-feared  Jesuit 
were  all  fruitless  of  good,  since  he  sees  the  re- 
flex of  their  teachings  there,  and  reads  in  every 
act  of  this  old  man's  life  a  living  illustration 
of  the  doctrines  of  Jesus. 

The  foregoing  case  has  been  presonted  thus 
broadly  not  so  much  for  its  intrinsic  interest, 
as  because  it  serves  to  throw  light  on  the  con- 
dition and  character  of  a  race  with  whom 
some  portion  of  our  own  people  may  hereafter 
come  in  contact,  inasmuch  as  they  inhabit  • 
district  in  which  the  most  prolific  part  of  the 
Fraser  river  mines  is  supposed  to  be  located. 
Being  timely  advised  as  to  the  disposition  or 
other  peculiarities  of  the  natives,  those  enter- 
ing their  territory  will  know  how  to  approach 
and  regulate  their  intercourse  ivith  them,  thus 
securing  advantages  that  might  otherwise  be 
lost,  and  avoiding  difiiculties  into  which, 
through  ignorance  or  misapprehension,  they 
might  bo  betrayed.  As  has  been  stated  then, 
the  Indians  on  the  upper  Frnser  are  morally 
and  physically  superior  to  the  tribes  further 
south,  as  well  as  those  generally  met  with  on 
American  territory.  And  although  they  are 
averse  to  having  the  whites  enter  their  coun- 
try, there  will  be  no  active  opposition,  once 
they  find  it  inevitable.  Indeed,  by  the  ob- 
servance of  a  little  tact  and  good  management, 
the  new  comers  may  not  only  gain  easy  ingress 
to  the  country,  and  procure  the  objects  of  their 
visit  in  peace,  but  also  secure  the  friendship  of 
the  natives  and  render  them  highly  serviceable 
to  them  in  their  labors. 

There  are  two  lines  of  policy  or  modes  of 
treatment,  either  of  which  is  tolerably  effective 
in  the  conduct  of  our  intercourse  with  the  In- 
dians. One  of  these  adopts  the  plan  of  yield- 
ing to  his  caprices,  falling  in  with  his  notions, 
and  accommodating  ourselves  to  his  peculiat^ 
ities  and  modes  of  living,  as  is  apt  to  be  the 
practice  of  the  French.  The  other  consists  in 
treating  him  with  kindness  and  justice,  but  at 
tiie  same  time  making  few  concessions  to  his 
views  or  wishes  while  we  sternly  mou/d  him 
to  our  own  purposes,  and  compel  him  to  yield 
in  everything  essential  to  our  success  and 
comfort. 

Either  of  these  modes,  as  has  been  stated,  if 


at 

01 

ri 
ni 


a 

ei 
ci 
h 
h 

C( 

ci 


ITS  SOIL,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  Ac. 


11 


eonsifitently  carried  out,  will  answer  very  well, 
but  it  is  tbe  inisfortiino  of  the  Americans  that 
while  they  attempt  both  they  adhere  strictly 
to  neither,  it  being  too  much  their  cuatom  to 
bully  and  abuse  tne  Indian  at  one  time,  thur 
arousing  his  enmity  and  opposition,  and  to 
trifle  with  him  at  another  thereby  encouraging 
him  to  disobedience  and  incurring  his  con- 
tempt. By  pursuing  a  course  digniflcd  but 
conciliatory,  kind  but  firm,  the  troubles,  or 
rather  miserable  squabbles,  into  which  our 
people  arc  so  apt  to  be  involved,  might  for  the 
most  part  be  avoided.  Let  it  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  tribes  of  which  we  are  speaking  are 
not  the  degraded,  sensual  creatures  elsewhere 
met  with,  ready  to  submit  tamely  to  the  indig- 
nities of  the  white  man,  or  pander  to  bis  lust. 
With  these,  female  purity  is  carefully  preserved 
and  highly  prized — conjugal  infidelity  or  other 
species  of  incontinence  being  of  rare  occur- 
rence. If  our  people  will  bear  these  facts  in 
mind,  and  regulate  their  conduct  accordingly, 
they  will  have  little  to  fear  from  the  opposition 
or  enmity  of  these  not  very  sanguinary,  nor  yet 
altogether  savage  tribes. 

POSTS  or  TiiK  Hudson's  bay  comfant. 

Located  in  various  parts  of  British  Colum- 
bia the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  have  a  number 
of  forte  or  trading  establishments  for  carrying 
on  their  traffic  with  the  native  tribes.  These 
posts  generally  bear  the  name  of  some  member 
of  the  Company,  or  other  individual  proi  linent 
ill  their  service.  They  ore  all  constructed  on 
the  same  general  plan,  differing  only  as  to  tbe 
number  or  dimension  of  their  buildings,  being 
governed  in  these  particular.-  by  the  impor- 
tance of  the  trade  at  the  point  where  they  are 
located.  In  founding  a  post  reference  is  always 
had  to  accessibility,  the  number  of  Indians, 
and  the  abundance  of  fur-producing  animals 
in  tbe  neighborhood.  It  is  also  desirable  that 
there  be  some  good  land  convenient,  that  a 
sufficient  supply  of  grain  and  vegetables  may  be 
raised  for  the  wants  of  the  place.  These  latter, 
however,  and  even  bread  have  often  to  be 
dispensed  with  by  these  hardy  employes  of  the 
Company,  their  only  food  being  salmon  or 
other  fish,  with  such  wild  fruits  as  the  Indians 
may  gather,  and  an  occasional  contribution  of 
game.  Of  the  latter  they  obtain  but  a  very 
scanty  supply,  every  species  of  animal  being 
scarce  throughout  the  Territory  owing  to  the 
pertenacity  with  which  they  have  long  been 
bunted  both  for  their  petries  and  flesh.  Yet, 
at  a  number  of  these  establishments,  not 
only  gardening  but  also  farming,  has  been  car- 
ried on  to  a  considerable  extent,  while  large 
numbers  of  neat  cattle  have  been  raised  and 
n  some  instances  also  sheep. 

The  site  selected  for  these  forts  is  generally 
a  spot  on  the  bank  of  a  lake  or  river,  suffici- 
ently elevated  to  command  the  surrounding 
country.  The  buildings  are  constructed  of 
hewed  timber,  and  vary  from  a  single  block- 
house to  fifteen  or  twenty  in  number.  They 
consist  of  one  or  two  large  houses  fof  the  ac- 
commodation of   the  officers  and  clerks,  and 


others,  the  quarters  of  the  laborers  and  me- 
chanics; also  spacious  storehouses  for  the  re- 
ception of  goods  and  furs,  with  shops  for  car- 
penters, coopers,  blacksmiths, &c., and  apowder 
magazine,  built  of  brick  or  stone.  Tin;  more 
important  posts  have,  in  addition,  a  school- 
house  and  chapel.  The  whole  establishment 
is  surrounded  by  a  stockade  fifteen  or  twenty 
feet  high,  inside  of  which,  near  the  top,  is  u 
gallery,  with  luop-holes  for  muskets.  This 
picket-work  is  flanked  with  bastions  of  which 
there  are  generally  two,  placed  at  diagonal 
corners  These  mount  several  small  pieces 
of  cannon  and  are  also  amply  pierced  for  mus- 
ketry. Seen  from  a  distance  these  posts  pre- 
sent a  rather  formidable  appearance,  and 
though  capable  of  offering  but  slight  resistance 
to  artillery,  have  ever  been  found  sufficient  to 
overawe  the  Indian  or  resist  his  attacks. 

FORT  LANGLRY. 

In  ascendinfi  Fraser  river,  the  first  fori 
arrived  at  is  Langley,  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  river,  twenty-five  miles  from  its  mouth. 
It  is  an  old  and  extensive  establishment,  ut 
present  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Y ale.  The 
Company  have  a  large  farm  at  this  place,  with 
a  considerable  amount  of  stock.  The  land, 
cleared  of  heavy  timber,  is  said  to  produce 
good  crops,  and  in  the  garden  attached  to  the 
fort  vegetables  grew  last  summer  with  the 
greatest  luxuriance,  while  the  apple  trees  were 
loaded  down  with  fruit.  There  are  many  iittle 
prairies  in  the  neighborhood,  which  being  cov- 
ered with  coarse  grass,  aflbrd  ample  feed  for 
stock  as  well  as  hay  for  winter  use.  The  Com- 
pany had  large  stores  of  goods  at  this  post  last 
season,  it  being  a  sort  of  distributing  point  to 
places  above,  and  to  which  many  of  the  miners 
ftnd  traders  came  for  supplies.  There  is  an 
Indian  village  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river 
containing  the  remnant  of  a  once  numerous 
tribe,  but  like  most -of  the  race  in  this  part  of 
the  country,  they  have  become  not  only  greatly 
reduced  in  numbers  but  sadly  demoralized, 
and  it  is  questionable  whether  their  services  or 
trade  can  hereafter  prove  of  much  advantage 
to  the  Company,  or  any  one  else. 
FonT  uorR 

Is  the  next  post  met  with  in  going  up  the 
river,  on  the  same  side  with  Langley,  and  sev- 
enty miles  above  it.  It  is  an  old  settlement,  at 
present  in  charge  of  Mr.  Walker,  and  consists 
of  three  block  buildings  within  a  picketed  in- 
closure.  Being  8f  limited  capacity  and  some- 
what dilapidated,  additional  bouses  have  been 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  very  ex- 
tensive trade  carried  on,  this  place  having  thus 
far  proved  the  head  of  steamboat  navigation. 
Suitable  steamers,  it  fs  thought,  can  run  to 
Fort  Yale  during  high  water,  the  Umatilla 
having  reached  that  point  once  last  summer. 
The  passage,  however,  will  always  be  attended 
with  difficulty  and  some  degree  of  danger. 

PORT  YAL>. 

This  place  is  fourteen  miles  above  Fort  Hope 
and  on  the  opposite  or  west  bank  of  the  river. 
The  original  post  consisted  of  a  single  log  hut, 


12 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


of  imnll  dimentiions,  without  any  palisade  or 
other  military  gurroundings.  Last  year  a  large 
block  Htorc  in  addition  was  erected.  This  has 
since  been  kept  well  stocked  with  goods,  which 
have  been  sold  at  a  moderate  profit,  however 
the  market  might  at  times  have  justified  higher 
prices.  The  post  is  nnnicd  after  Mr.  Yale,  now, 
as  has  been  stated,  Chief  Trader  at  Lungley. 
He  is  an  old  and  efficient  servant  of  the  Com* 
pany,  having  been  on  Fraser  river  over  thirty 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  been  but  once 
absent  from  the  Territory.  Mr.  Alvord  is  at 
present  Superintendent  at  this  place. 

rORT  DALLAS  ANU  FOBT  BKnKNS. 

The  former  of  these  posts  is  situated  about 
fifly  miles  above  Fort  Yale,  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  river,  and  three  miles  below  the  mouth  of 
Thompson's  Fork.  It  is  named  after  Mr.  Alex. 
O.  Dallas,  a  son-in-law  of  Governor  Douglas, 
a  gentleman  whose  efficient  services  and  liberal 
views  have  alike  secured  him  the  confidence  of 
the  Company  and  the  respect  of  the  public,and 
who,  in  the  estimation  ol  all,  is  deemed  justly 
to  merit  the  compliment  thus  paid  him.  The 
buildings  not  yet  occupied,  being  in  an  unfin- 
ished state,  are  located  on  a  handsome  grassy 
eminence,  overlooking  the  river,  toward  which 
it  slopss  with  an  eveu  and  gentle  declivity. 
They  will  be  completed  and  brought  into  use 
the  present  summer,  there  being  a  numerous 
mining  population  in  the  vicinity.  Fort  Berens, 
also  named  after  a  member  of  the  Company,  is 
situated  on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  fifty 
miles  above  Foi  t  Dallas,  at  a  point  opposite  tbe 
terminus  of  the  new  trail  opened  through  the 
Lilooett  country  to  the  upper  Fraser.  It  occu- 
pies a  magnificent  table  land,  commanding  a 
view  for  many  miles  up  and  down  the  river, 
and  though  laid  out  on  an  extensive  8ca1e,J8 
in  a  still  more  unfinished  state  than  Fort  Dai- 
las  ;  yet,Iike  the  latter,  is  to  be  finished  nnd  oc- 
cupied during  the  present  spring  or  summer. 

FOnT    KAMLOOPS. 

Making  a  deflection  one  hundred  miles  east, 
we  arrived  at  Fort  Kumloops,  also  called  Fort 
Thompson.  It  is  situated  on  the  North  Branch 
of  Thompson's  Fork,  near  its  junction  with  the 
main  stream,  and  a  little  above  the  head  of 
Kush  wap  Lake,  in  the  midst  of  an  extended  and 
highly  fertile  bottom.  It  is  the  only  post  the 
Company  have  in  the  interior  of  British  Colum- 
bia to  the  east  of  Fraser  river — Fort  Colville, 
On  the  Columbia,  at  one  time  thought  to  be  on 
the  English,  having  been  ascertained  by  the 
late  survey  to  be  on  the  American  side  of  the 
line.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  Company  to 
carry  it  to  their  oWn  side  this  summer,  and 
re-erect  it  under  tbe  name  of  Fort  Shepherd, 
as  a  mark  of  respect  for  the  present  Governor  of 
tbe  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  There  are  several 
hundred  acrei  of  land  under  cultivation  near 
Port  Kamloops,  a  large  proportion  being 
planted  to  potatoes,  whioh  grow  here  with  lit- 
tle culture,  and  of  an  excellent  quality.  Wheat 
and  other  cereals  also  thrive  well,  the  yield 
being  abundant  and  the  crop  quite  certain. 
There  is  also  a  fine  range  for  atock  in  tbe 


neighborhood,  the  cows  and  oxen,  of  which 
there  are  several  hundred  head,  with  a  large 
number  of  horses,  keeping  fat  through  the 
summer,  and  in  tolerable  condition  through 
the  winter,  though  none  except  the  working 
animals  receive  any  fodder,  unless,  perhaps,  it 
be  a  little  straw.  The  Indian  Chief,  Paul,  Ht- 
ing  near  the  Fort,  owns  a  large  amount  of  stock, 
the  sale  of  which  to  the  whites  of  late  has  ren- 
dered  him  quite  wealthy.  This  post  is  under 
the  management  of  chief  trader  McLean,  a 
man  held  in  great  awe  by  the  surrounding  sav- 
ages, from  his  summary  and  decisive  manner 
of  dealing  with  ofl'cnders.  Indeed,  ho  is  quite 
remarkable  for  his  reckless  intrepidity,  even 
amongst  a  class  distinguished  for  cjol  and 
determined  courage. 

FOKT  ALHXANDRIA. 

Returning,  and  follwing  up  the  Fraser  over 
150  miles  above  Fort  Berens,  we  arrive  at  Port 
Alexandria,  or  as  it  is  commonly  called,  AIex« 
ander,  being  named  after  Sir  Alexander  Mac- 
Kenisie,  who  indicated  the  spot  as  favorable 
for  a  station  as  early  as  1793.  Having  reached 
this  point  on  his  journey  ot  exploration,  this 
celebrated  traveler  being  advised  by  the  natives 
of  tlie  dangerous  navigation  of  the  river  below, 
and  conscious  that  he  was  already  near  the 
Pacific,  directed  his  course  toward  the  west, 
and  stricking  the  Salmon  river,  followed  it  to 
its  disemboguement  in  one  of  thosedeep  canals 
that  penetrate  the  coast  of  British  Columbia 
in  snch  a  remarkable  manner.  It  is  the  prin- 
cipal post  of  the  company  in  this  region,  being 
a  sort  of  depot  for  receiving  the  produce 
gathered  at  the  stations  still  further  on,  of 
which  there  are  a  number,  all  however  of 
secondary  importance.  This  Fort  is  situated 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Fraser,  nearly  in  lati- 
tude 52°  N.  The  country  a  'jaccnt  is  open  and 
picturesque,  and  is  said  to  aff'ord  good  hunting 
grounds,  whence  the  Indian  procuring  an 
abundant  supply  of  skinc,  that  trade  has  always 
been  active  at  this  point. 

To  the  southwest  of  Alexandria,  some  fifty 
hiiles,  is  Fort  Chilcotin,  on  a  river,  near  a  lake, 
and  in  the  country  of  a  tribe  all  bearing  tbe 
same  name.  These  people  were  once  numer- 
ous, and  their  land  abounding  in  beaver  and 
other  fur-producing  animals,  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  establish  a  post  amongst  them. 
Subsequently,  however,  their  number  being 
reduced  through  war  and  disease,  their  trade 
proved  profitless,  and  this  station  like  several 
others  further  north,  has  been  abandoned  or  is 
occupied  only  as  occasion  may  require.  In 
this  catalogue  may  be  enumerated  Fort  George, 
one  hundred  miles  north  of  Fort  Alexandria, 
at  the  junction  of  Stuart  and  Fraser  rivers, 
ana  the  still  more  inconsiderable  stations  of 
Fort  Fraser,  McLeod  aud  St.  James. 

FOBT  aiMPSOM. 

The  only  remaining  post  requiting  special 
mention  is  that  of  Fort  Simpson,  situated  on 
Chatbams  Sound,  in  the  extreme  northwest 
come:  V  Of  British  Columbia,  adjacent  to  the 
Russian  Possessions.     Located  on  a  fine  har 


ITS  SOIL,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  Ac. 


18 


f  which 
a  Urge 
ugh   the 
through 
workiug 
irhaps,  it 
'aul,  liT- 
of  stock, 
Las  ren- 
is  under 
cLean,   a 
ding  sav- 
Q  manner 
0  is  quite 
liity,  even 
cjul  and 


raser  oTer 
ve  at  Fort 
led,  Alcm 
nder  Mac- 
favorable 
ng  reached 
ation,  this 
the  natives 
iver  below, 
f  near  the 
i  the  west, 
lowed  it  to 
deep  canals 
Columbia 
IS  the  prin- 
igion,  being 
10    produce 
ther  on,  of 
however  of 
^  IS  situated 
arly  in  lati- 
is  open  and 
ood  hunting 
■ocuring    an 
e has  always 

,  some  fifty 
,near  a  lake, 

bearing  the 
once  numer- 

beaver  and 
was  deemed 
longst  them, 
imber  being 
e,  their  trade 
1  like  several 
indoned  or  is 

require.  In 
1  Fort  Oesrge, 
t  Alexandria, 
i'raser  rivers, 
le  stations  of 
les. 

ailing  special 
I,  situated  on 
me  northwest 
Ijacent  to  the 
on  a  fine  bar 


bor,  the  neighboring  waters  abounding  in  fish, 
and  the  land  in  wild  animals,  the  centre  of  a 
large  number  of  active  and  thrifty  tribes,  it 
eiyoys  s  large  and  lucrative  trad*.  It  is  the 
•mart  for  all  the  various  northern  Indians,  being 
frequented  not  only  ty  those  on  the  main  land, 
but  also  by  the  inhabitants  of  Queen  Char- 
lotte's Island,  and  the  Russian  Possessions. 
It  is  called  (iter  Sir  George  Simpson,  formerly 
a  Governor  of  the  Company,  and  is  flrequently 
visited  by  steamers  from  Victoria,  which  carry 
up  large  quantities  of  goods  adapted  to  the 
Indian  trade,  and  return  freighted  with  the 
commodities  procured  in  exchange. 

OOLD  MINKS — THEIR  BARLV  HISTORY. 

The  existence  ot  gold  on  Thompson's  Fork, 
and  possibly  on  other  tributaries  of  the  Fraser, 
has  been  known  to  the  Hudson  Bay  traders  for 
the  last  five  or  six  years,  the  Indians  having 
been  in  the  habit  of  bringing  in  small  quanti- 
ties and  exchanging  it  for  other  coiqmodities 
during  this  time.  Mr.  McLean,  Chief  Trader 
at  Kainloops,  procured  some  dust  from  the  na- 
tives as  early  as  '52,  since  which  period  more 
or  less  has  been  received  at  this  and  other  posts 
of  the  Company,  chiefly  on  Fraser  river.  The 
amount  thus  obtained,  though  perhaps  consid- 
derablo  in  the  aggregate,  was  not  jo  large  as 
commonly  conjectured,  having  been  insuflicient 
to  awalun  a  suspicion  in  the  minds  of  these 
traders  fliat  diggings  remunerative  to  white 
labor  existed  in  that  quarter  ;  at  least  so  little 
did  they  concern  themselves  about  the  matter, 
that  others  were  left  to  make  the  final  discovery 
which  has  resulted  in  so  rapidly  populating  the 
country.  The  finding  of  paying  placers  in  this 
region  was  not  en  event,  however,  of  such  sud- 
dsn  or  recent  occurrence  as  is  generally  tup- 
posed,  various  parties  having  prospected  the 
banks  of  Thompson's  river  and  its  branches  at 
different  times  since  theopening  of  the  Colville 
mines  in  the  fall  of  '55,  and  always  with  re- 
sults showing  that  moderate  wages  could  be 
made  on  that  stream,  though  not  such  as  would 
then  justify  men  remaining,  the  prices  of  pro- 
visions being  enormously  high,  and  the  Indians 
disposed  to  be  troublesome.  During  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  of  '57,  a  number  of  persons,-bcing 
mostly  advjenturers  from  Oregon  and  Washing- 
ton Territories,  or  the  Colville  mines,  together 
with  a,  sprinkling  of  half-breeds  and  Canadian 
French,  formerly  in  the  Company's  service, 
made  their  way  into  the  country  on  the  upper 
Fraser,  where,  prospecting  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  forks,  they  found  several  rich  bars, 
on  which  they  went  to  work,  continuing  opera- 
tions with,  much  success,  until  forced  to  leave 
from  want  of  provisions  ot|  the  approach  of 
cold  weather.  Coming  to  Victoria,  or  return- 
ing whence  they  came,  these  men  spread 
abroad  the  news  of  their  good  luck  and  laid 
the  foundation  for  the  excitement  that  soon  af- 
ter followed. 

This  intelligence  reached  San  Francisco 
early  in  '58,  and  being  confirmed  by  subse- 
quent reports,  spread  rapidly  thro'igh  the  State, 
affecting  every  class,  and  causing  a  general 


stampede,  until  culminating  about  the  middle 
of  July,  the  movement  had  transferred  full 
twenty  thousand  people  from  Califurnia  to  this 
new  field  of  enterprise  and  exertion.  How 
this  all  turned  out  in  the  end  it  is  now  useless 
to  inquire,  nor  is  it  worth  while  to  attempt  in- 
dicating the  particularagencies  through  which 
it  was  brought  about.  Some  have  attributed 
it  to  the  efforts  of  the  shipping  interest  opera- 
ting through  the  presj,  while  others,  with  more 
reason  and  fairness',  have  detected  its  main 
spring  in  the  privrtto  advices  sent  from  tbr 
mines,  and  the  'jaturally  impulsive  spirit  of 
our  people,  who,  in  like  cusc,  have  ever  shown 
a  penchant  for  acting  first  and  deliberating  af- 
terwards. That  the  newspaper  press  can  be 
justly  charged  with  any  such  complicity  no 
well  informed  person  will  contend,  since  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find  a  single  line  in  the 
editorial  columns  of  any  journal  in  the  State 
calculated  to  magnify  the  wealth  of  those 
mines,  or  encourage  emigration  thither.  If 
the  directors  of  the  press  published  letters,  or 
extracts  from  other  papers  calculated  to  pro- 
duce that  end,  it  was  simply  discharging  their 
duty  as  impartial  journalists,  which  require* 
they  shall  present  every  side  of  a  question  en- 
gaging the. public  attention,  ho^^ever  it  may 
conflict  with  individual  interest  or  their  own 
private  opinions. 

The  truth  is,  every  closs  of  persons  was  more 
influenced  by  private  letters  received  from 
parties  who  had  already  proceeded  to  Fraser 
river  than  by  anything  that  appeared  in  the 
newspapers.  It  cannot  be  forgotten,  that  the . 
mining  community,  recalling  how  often  they 
had  been  mislead  by  similar  rumors,  took 
every  precaution  to  guard  against  their  being 
deceived  in  this  instance;  companies  and  small 
camps  frequently  delegating  one  of  the  most  ex- 
perienced and  trusty  of  their  number  to  go 
and  examine  what  foundation  there  might  be 
for  these  flying  stories,  and  report  aceordingly. 
And  it  was  on  the^"  reports,  or  intelligence 
derived  through  like  sources,  that  people  for 
the  most  part  acted.  Sometimes  a  secret  note 
addressed  to  a  friend  advising  a  hasty  visit  to 
the  new  Dorado,  would  gain  publicity,  and 
forthwith  a  general  scamper  would  ensue, 
scores  rushing  away  who  never  would  have 
vhought  of  going  from  anything  they  might 
see  in  the  public  prints.  More  than  once  a 
single  letter  so  received  from  a  precocious  ad- 
venturer has  had  the  effect  to  depopulate  a 
farming  district  to  an  extent  that  seriously 
interfered  with  the  gathering  of  the  harvest. 
But  why  this  vindication  of  the  newspaper 
press,  or  wherefore  these  excuses  for  the  con- 
duct of  our  people?  Perhaps  they  did  not  err 
in  their  judgment  so  widely,  or  act  so  very 
foolishly  after  all.  Let  us  review  a  little  and 
see  how  this  ib. 

Here  was  a  river  reaching  many  hundred 
miles  inland,  the  batiks  of  which  along  its  low- 
er portion  were  rich  in  gold,  to  all  appearance 
washed  down  from  above.  Upon  several 
tributaries  of  this  river  good  diggings  hbd  also 


u 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


\r 


been  found.    Adjacent  to  the  region  trarersed^ 
by  It,  and  lying  between  the  same  mountain 
ranges  were  extensive  placeres,  that  had  been 
«acueii8fully  worked  for    ycara.      What  was 
there  tlien,  so  preposterous   in  supposing  an 
auriferous  rpf^ion  existed  along  tlie  banks  of  this 
Mtream  ?     Was  it  not  reasonable  to  conclude 
such  was  the  case  ?    Was  not  this  a  fair  de- 
duction— an  inference  warranted  by  geological 
Hcience  and  our  gold  mining  experience?     Of 
course  it  was ;  and  herein  the  press  has  ample 
juttiRcation  for  the  course  it  pursued,  and  every 
Craser-river  adventurer  a  sutlicient  reason  for 
the  hope  that  was  in  him.     It  ntust  be  admit- 
■  tod  we  were  mistaken — possibly  in  our  esti- 
mate  of  the   magnitude  and   value  of  these 
mines, 'though  this  remains  to  bo  proved  ;  but 
certain  it  if.,  we  misapprehend  theirprecise  lo- 
cHlity,  and  the   ditllcultics  we  should  have  to 
encounter  in  reaching  them.     Apart  from  this, 
no  very  great  blunder  was  committed  after  all. 
Wu  had  what  seemed  r.afe  data  for  action;  and 
however  we  may  now  speak  of  it  as  a  delusion, 
or  denounce  it  us  a  humbug,  it  is  not  always 
our  people  have  so  sound  abasia  for  their  finan- 
cial and  commercial  speculations,  or  industrial 
projects,  as  had  this  widely  execrated  and  suf- 
ficiently unfortunate   Fraser  river  movement. 
And  although  it  has  become  the  fashion  to  rank 
it  with  tiold  lake  expeditions  and  South  sea 
schemes — projects  purely  speculative  or  whol- 
ly visionary — it  may  safely  -be  affirmed  that 
before  two  years  mote  shall  have  passed,  these 
mines  will  redeem  themselves  from  the  odium 
of  the  comparison,  if  they  do  not  fully  realize 
the  expectations  of  the  pioneer  crowd,  all  of 
whom   sought  them  too  early,  and  many  of 
whom  left  them  too  soon.    That  this  opinion 
of  their  future  may  not  seem  too  sanguine,  let 
OS  examine  for  a  moment. 

TUBIB  PRODUCTIVK.NESS  AND  EXTRNT. 

If  we  begin  at  Fort  Hope,  and  follow  up  Fra- 
ser river  to  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Alexander,  we 
<hall  have  passed  over  a  stretch  of  country 
more  than  300  miles  long,  all  of  which  is 
auriferous.  Some  pay  diggings  have  been 
found  below  Fort  Hope,  and  to  what  extent 
the  couiitiy  above  the  highest  point  mentioned 
may  be  gold  producing,  has  not  yet  been  ascer- 
tained. Nearly  all  the  bars  within  this  scope, 
some  of  which  are  very  extensive,  contain  a 
large  amount  of  pay  dirt.  The  high  banks  in 
some  places  have  also  shown  a  good  prospect, 
while  gold  in  small  quantities  has  been  found 
even  on  the  table  lands  and  sides  of  the  moun- 
tains. But  the  gold  fields  of  British  Columbia 
are  not  confined  to  the  banks  of  the  Fraser. 
Several  of  its  tributaries  are  known  to  abound 
in  the  precious  metal ;  the  yield  of  some  hav- 
ing been  quite  as  prolific  as  any  part  of  the 
main  stream  itself.  The  banks  of  Bridge  river, 
for  forty  miles  up,  have  furnished  very  satis- 
factory diggings,  the  dust  being  coarse,  of  good 
quality  and  easily  saved.  The  bars  on  Thomp- 
son's Pork,  as  high  up  as  Nicholas  river,  have 
uniformly  paid  fiiir  wages.  Above  that  they 
have  not  generally,  thus  far,  proved  remuner- 
ative.     Along  Nicholas,  Bonaparte  and  Tran- 


quille  rivera,  all  branches  of  the  Fork,  th«  dig- 
gings that  will  pay  moderate  wages — aay  four 
or  five  doliari  per  day — mny  be  measured  bj 
the  acre.  On  the  latter  stream  parties  mining 
with  rockeri,  averaged  five  dollars  a  day,  dur- 
ing all  last  autumn.  It  has  been  prospected  for 
forty  or  fifty  miles,  showing  dirt  along  all  that 
distance  that  would  pay  equally  well.  Gold  has 
also  been  found  in  other  directions,  and  on  wa- 
ters far  separated  from  the  Fraser.  On  the  Liloo- 
ett  river,  reaching  from  one  end  to  the  other,  are 
numerous  bars  on  which  small  wages  can  be 
made.  The  extreme  fineness  and  levity  of  the 
dust,  however,  together  with  the  long  contin- 
ued stage  of  high  water,  the  bars  being  gen- 
erally low,  will  preclude  any  chance  of  success- 
ful mining  on  this  stream,  unless  carried  on 
by  some  improved  process,  or  during  the  three 
or  four  months  preceding  the  commencement 
of  cold  weather. 

Such  are  the  limits  of  the  Fraser  river  gold 
fields  as 'ascertained  by  actual  exploration. 
How  much  they  may  be  enlarged  by  future 
discoveries,  or  how  rich  these  partially  pros- 
pected streams  may  eventually  prove,  is  matter 
for  conjecture.  That  the  multitude  who  re- 
sorted to  them  have  been  put  poorly  rewarded 
for  their  loas  of  time  and  outlay  of  money — 
that  capital  has  met  with  indifferent  returna, 
and  merchandise  netted  but  sorry  profits,  ia 
lamentably  true.  Yet  all  this  loss,  disttvpoint- 
ment  and  disaster,  is  not  to  be  set  down  to  the 
narrow  limits  or  poverty  of  the  mines.  As  bat 
been  said,  the  laborer  could  not  reach  the 
actual  mining  district  until  too  late  in  the 
seast"^^  for  successful  operations.  Besides,  a 
vfry  .irge  percentage  of  those  who  went  to 
Fraser  river  were  either  mere  speculators  and 
adventurers,  or  persons  mentally  indisposed  to, 
if  not  physically  incapable  of  doing  bard  work. 
As  to  the  pecuniary  loss  attending  invest- 
ments in  that  quarter,  let  us  \sk  ourselves 
how  much  of  this  raay  be  traced  to  the  most 
wild  and  absurd  kind  of  speculation — to  build- 
ing towns,  erecting  wharves,  and  cutting  trails 
where  nature  never  intended,  and  the  rcouire- 
ments  of  business  never  called  for  such  im- 
provements? Thousands  and  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  were  thus  spent  in  futile 
attempts  at  building  up  cities  where  none 
were  needed,  and  in  ridiculous  endeavors  at 
forcing  trade  into  costly  and  impracticable 
channels.  Let  the  forced  growth  of  Port 
Townsend,  and  the  unwholesome  impetus  giv- 
ing to  nearly  every  other  place  on  the  Sound, 
producing  overtrade  and  a  fictitious  rise  in 
real  estate — let  the  acres  of  ruins  and  piled 
water  lota  at  Whatcom,  the  foolish  outlays  at 
Point  Roberts,Semiahmoo  and  Sehome,  together 
with  the  spirit  of  reckless  expenditure  and 
insane  speculation  everywhere  exhibited,  come 
in  for  their  proper  share  of  the  losses  incurred 
by  these  unfortunates,  and  which  have  so  gen- 
erally but  unjustly  been  charged  to  the  ac- 
count of  Fraser  river. 

INDnOBMCNTS  TO  ■mORATIOH. 

It  being  evident,  then,  that  the  acope  of  pay 
diggings  in  British    Oolumbia  ia  aufilciently 


di 


be 


ITS  SOIL,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  Ac. 


15 


aitennivo,  the  qneitlon  arises  as  to  their  rich- 
neii,  or  rather  thcircapacity  to  give  immodlate 
and  profltablo  employment  to  any  considerable 
population.  The  practical  point  to  be  decided 
is,  whetherevery  thing  considered,  better  wages 
can  be  realized  there  than  in  the  mines  of  Cali- 
fornia. Of  course,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
any  person,  however  much  he  may  have  seen 
of  the  two  countries,  or  however  conversant 
he  may  be  with  their  comparative  advantages, 
will  assume  to  advise  which  should  be  chosen 
aa  a  field  for  mining  operations.  So  much 
depends  on  circumstances — the  situation  of 
parties,  their  fitness  to  endure  hardship  and 
exposure,  on  the  increase  of  facilities  for  reach- 
ing the  interior  of  British  Columbia,  and  a 
variety  of  considerations,  applying  with  greater 
or  less  force  in  each  individual  case,  that  any 
advise  given  on  this  point  would  necessarily  be 
qualified  to  an  extent  rendering  it  nearly  value- 
less as  a  general  rule  of  action.  The  most  that 
could  be  expected  of  one  treating  on  (he  subject 
is  that  a  full  and  candid  statement  of  facts  should 
be  given,  leaving  each  one  to  judge  for  himself 
as  to  the  propriety  of  going  or  staying.  It  is 
the  opinion  of  very  many  who  have  visited 
these  northern  mines  that  a  hardy  and  per- 
severing man,  being  without  a  mining  claim 
here,  or  sufficient  means  to  buy  into  one,  might 
for  the  next  few  years  make  more  money  there 
than  in  California.  This,  however,  is  on  the 
supposition  that  he  is  capable  of  not  only  doing 
bard  work,  but  also  of  subsisting  on  coarse 
and  scanty  fare,  and  that  he  can  be  absent  for 
a  length  of  time  without  serious  inconvenience 
to  himself  or  others ;  and  also,  perhaps,  on  the 
further  condition  *that  cheap  and  expeditious 
means  of  transportation  be  supplied  between 
the  head  of  steamboat  navigation  and  the 
mines,  since,  with  the  present  inadequate 
means  ofcarriage,  the  inducements  for  emigrat- 
ing to  that  quarter  are  greatly  diminished,  the 
cost  of  subsistence  in  these  mines  being  enor- 
mous ;  cot  less  in  the  more  remote  localities 
than  the  combined  expt-nsc  of  living  and  the 
price  usually  paid  for  labor  in  this  State.  That 
additional  improvements  will  shortly  bo  made 
for  effecting  that  ol^ject,  either  by  the  Colonial 
governmeht  engaging  in  the  work  or  encourag- 
ing others  to  do  so,  there  is  every  reason  for 
believing,  from  the  pronspt  and  liberal  mannej 
in  which  it  has  hitherto  responded  to  demands 
of  this  kind ;  not  le^is  than  $150,000  having 
already  been  expended  from  the  public  treasury 
in  opening  new  routes,  or  in  endeavors  to 
facilitate  the  carriage  of  goods  into  the  mines. 
From  present  indications,  it  may  be  safely  in- 
ferred that  the  cost  of  passage  and  freight  over 
these  routes,  heretofore  oppressively  high,  will 
be  reduced  one  hundred  per  cent.,  if  not  more, 
daring  the  coming  summer,  causing  a  corres- 
ponding reduction  in  the  expenses  of  the  miner, 
and  a  like  increase  in  the  net  profits  he  will  be 
able  to  realise  from  bis  labor.  Should  this  be 
done,  there  is  little  doubt  thtit  men  of  moderate 
means  might,  unless  going  in  too  great  num- 
bers, do  quite  as  well  for  the  present  on  Fraser 


riveras  on  any  of  the  streams  in  our  own  State. 
One  advantage  in  these  comparatively  fresh 
mines  is  that  every  man  can  be  his  own  master; 
he  can  own  his  claim  and  work  it  himself; 
nonftnced  be  hirelings,  and  none  need  be  idle; 
whereas,  in  California  it  is  quite  ditforent.^i 
is  not  every  miner  who  can  be  a  proprietor 
here  ;  nor  is  it  always  that  a  man  can  get  work 
when  he  wants  it. 

It  requires  capital  to  buy  into  a  claim  here, 
or  else  much  time  must  be  spent  in  prospecting 
before  one  is  found,  and  then  not  always  with 
success.  There,  no  persevering  and  industri- 
ous man  need  have  any  difficulty  on  this  score; 
none  need  hire  out  their  services,  or  be  com- 
pelled to  go  for  a  length  of  tiiro  without  em- 
ployment. In  saying  this,  of  course  we  mean 
on  the  upper  Eraser  and  its  tributaries,  where 
alone,  the  real  mines  are,  and  to  which  most 
new  comers  must  make  their  way  if  they  ex- 
pect to  be  successful.  The  writer  is  aware 
how  little  short  of  seditious  this  sort  of 
language  will  be  regarded  by  those  who  fear 
the  transfer  of  a  few  thousand  men,  the  mere 
shiiling  the  point  of  consumption  from  one 
place  on  this  coast  to  another,  will  effect  the 
ruin  of  California.  But  still  he  is  of  opinipn 
that  a  candid  statement  of  facti  can  never 
work  harm,  and  that  labor,  while  it  should 
never  be  diverted  into  profitless  channels, 
should  always  bo  left  to  seek  its  most  remu- 
nerative field.  There  are  sufficient  discour- 
agements to  emigration  to  the  Fraser  river 
mines  without  recourse  to  misrepresentation 
or  concealment.  Their  remote  and  inaccessi- 
ble position,  the  exorbitant  prices  of  provis- 
ions prevailing  at  present,  the  cold  winters  and 
long  continued  stage  of  high  water,  with  many 
minor  difficulties  and  objections,  make  up  a 
formidable  argument  against  their  claims  Ui 
attention,  and  will  no  doubt  check  any  undue 
diversion  of  our  people  that  way.  Yet  in  the 
face  of  all  these  discouragements,  there  is 
good  reason  to  believe  some  thousand  of  the 
more  hardy  and  adventurous  of  our  popula- 
tion, with  an  indefinite  number  of  the  idle  and 
unemployed,  might  repair  to  these  northern 
mines  with  profit  to  themselves  and  no  great 
detriment  to  the  public.  Indeed,  whatever  of 
damage  certain  interests  may  have  suffered 
from  the  hegira  of  last  year,  it  cannot  be  de- 
nied that  much  good  resulted  to  this  commu- 
nity in  the  happy  riddance  of  a  large  number 
of  worthless  and  non-producing  members 
effected  througa  its  agency. 

The  cities  and  towns  throughout  the  State  had 
become  sadly  infested  by  a  class  of  lazy,  list- 
less drones,  some  discouraged  through  want  of 
success,  others  broken  down  by  dissipation  and 
vice — some  vagabonds  from  force  of  circum- 
stances, and  some  from  force  of  habit,  yet  all 
more  or  less  a  burden  to  their  friends  and  a 
nuisance  to  society,  and  who,  bnt  for  some 
stimulous  like  this  Fraser  river  excitement, 
never  would  have  made  another  honest  effort 
to  earn  a  livelihood ;  but  who,  aroused  by  the 
prospect  of  easily  acquired  wealth,  again  be* 


"H 


16 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


ii 


took  themselvei  to  labor,  And  having  tbui  es-^  hare  a  tolerable  buiine.^i  or  lituatlon,  or  even 

e,'  a  good  prospect  of  luch  in  California,  to  leare 


caped  from  the  thraldom  of  a  vicious  indolence^ 
will  be  likeljr,  in  most  cases,  to  recover  their 
lost  standing,  and  do  something  for  themselres 
hereafter.  And  hence,  however  much  individ- 
ual injury  may  have  resulted  from  this  Frazer 
river  movement,  it  was  not  all  a  loss  to  the 
public  at  large.  Deeply  as  wa  may  deplore 
certain  of  its  effects,  it  still  left  traces  of  good 
behind  it.  Like  the  winds  that  sweep  over  our 
city,  it  carried  away  the  pestilential  effluvia 
that  otherwise  stagnating,  become  the  pregnant 
agents  of  disease  and  death.  And  it  would 
hardly  be  matter  for  regret  were  our  large 
towns  more  frequently  the  subjects  of  these 
visitations,  so  effectual  in  purging  the  social 
atmosphere,  and  relieving  community  of  its 
vagrant  ^nd  vicious  members.  ,    ,. 

IHPBOVKD   PR08PKCT8. 

Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  reaching  the  gold  fields  of  British  Columbia 
are  still  formidable  enough,  there  is  no  doubt 
that  they  have  been  greatly  diminished  since 
last  year,  and  that  the  chances  for  success  in 
mining  are  manifold  better  this  season  than 
they  were  last.  The  locality  and  character  of 
the  diggings  are  now  understood  ;  the  peculi- 
arities of  the  seasons  and  climate  are  known  ; 
the  Indian  annoyances  have  ceased  ;  new  routes 
have  been  opened,  and  steamboats  placed  on 
the  rivers,  adding  security  to  life,  and  cheap- 
ening transportation  and  travel ;  while  com- 
fortable places  of  entertainment  have  been 
opened  at  all  the  central  points,  and  at  con- 
venient distances  along  the  principal  thorough- 
fares. Of  provisions,  if  not  over  cheap  and 
abundant,  there  will  always  bo  a  sufficient 
supply  to  insure  the  miner  from  starvation, 
and  at  reasonable  prices.  Lumber,  an  article 
so  necessary  for  successful  mining,  will  here- 
after be  procurable,  as  also  will  fresh  vegeta- 
bles, on  a  due  supply  of  which  health  is  so  de- 
pendant ;  ditches  and  reservoirs  will  be,  and  to 
some  extent  have  already  been  constructed, 
affording  a  steady  and  ample  supply  of  water 
on  bars  where  otherwise  nothing  could  be 
done.  Men  becoming  familiar  with  the  periods 
of  high  and  low  water,  will  be  able  to  take 
advantage  of  the  same  for  the  purpose  of  min- 
ing ;  while  acquaintance  with  the  eddies  and 
rapids  will  enable  tlem  to  avoid  many  of  the 
dangers  of  river  navigation.  Trade  monopo- 
lies, so  far  as  any  existed,  having  ceased;  and 
mining  licenses  having  been  practically  abro- 
gated ;  what  with  courts  and  peace  ofiicers  at 
all  the  more  populous  points,  and  the  prospect 
of  escorts  for  the  transportation,  with  places  of 
deposit  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  miner's  gold 
dust,  we  cannot  see  what  ground  there  can  be 
for  complaint  as  to  existing  regulations,  or  the 
manner  in  which  life  and  property  are  protect- 
ed in  these  mines. 

Comparing  this  year  withlast,  there  is  hardly 
a  single  view  in  which  the  mining  interest  and 
the  prospect  for  success  has  not  greatly  chang- 
ed for  the  better.  This  is  not  said  with  the 
remotest  view  to  encouraging  parties  who  may 


the  same  and  reptirto  those  distant  gold  fields 
in  the  hope  of  bettering  their  condition.  Let 
no  one  who  bus  a  living  business  here,  or  em- 
ploy ment  at  fair  wages,  or  the  means  of  secur- 
ing either,  think  for  a  moment  of  abandoning 
the  same  and  resorting  to  Fraser  river.  We  are 
not  writing  for  such.  Neit  her  are  we  writing 
for  speculators  and  traders,  or  the  non-produc- 
ing fraternity,  who  seek  to  live  by  their  wits 
rather  than  hard  work.  To  this  class  the  in- 
ducements for  migrating  northward  are  indeed 
slender.  But  to  the  ill-rewarded  hard  worker, 
the  unemployed,  to  all  such  in  fact  as  come 
within  the  category  before  mentioned,  we  hare 
thought  fit  to  say  British  Columbia  opens,  per- 
haps, for  you  as  good  a  labor-field  just  now  as 
California  ;  venturing  to  indicate,  at  the  same 
time,  the  improved  condition  of  things  in  that 
quarter  as  warranting  the  suggestion.  In  the 
opinion  that  these  mines  will  better  reward  any 
class  of  laborers  whatever,  than  those  of  our 
State,  we  may  be  mistaken  ;  but  there  is  little 
ground  for  mistake  in  what  has  been  said  as  to 
the  increased  facilities  for  travel,  and  the  im- 
proved chances  for  success  this  season  as  com- 
pared with  the  past.  If  we  examine  the  con- 
dition and  progress  of  affairs  last  year  a  little 
more  in  detail,  the  truth  of  this  remark  becomes 
fully  apparent. 

lu  the  first  place,  a  large  proportion  of  the 
miners;  on  reaching  Victoria,  were  delayed  at 
that  point  a  long  time ;  some  waiting  for  the 
river  to  fall,  but  more  because  they  were  una- 
ble to  proceed,  either  from  want  of  means  to 
go  on  the  steamers,  or  the  inability  of  .the  lat- 
ter to  carry  them.  Here  they  idled  away  their 
time  doing  nothing,  or  engaged  in  building 
boats  in  which,  when  completed,  they  embark- 
ed for  the  mines.  These  craft  being  small  and 
badly  constructed,  and  as  a  general  thing,  still 
more  badly  navigated,  met  with  many  disasters, 
often  of  A  fatal  character,  in  crossing  the  gulf 
or  attempting  to  ascend  the  rivers,  and  were 
no  longer  ot  any  value  after  the  owner  had 
reached  his  point  of  destination,  Taking  into 
the  account  the  original  cost  of  these  boats 
and  canoes,  varying  from  fifty  to  a  hundred 
dollars  each,  together  with  the  loss  of  time  and 
property,  to  say  nothing  of  life,  occasioned  by 
this  species  of  navigation,  the  damage  sus- 
tained by  the  miner  in  being  forced  to  resort 
to  it,  was  incalculable. 

Having  reached  the  mines,  or,  rather,  got  as 
far  up  the  river  as  practicable,  the  adventurer 
found  all  the  bars  worth  working  completely 
occupied  or  under  water.  Thus  conditioned, 
he  had  either  to  return,  remain  an  indefinite 
period  doing  nothing,  or  attempt  forcing  his 
way  further  up.  A  majority  chose  to  come 
back;  many  staid  until  the  water  went  ^own 
— a  part  doing  well  and  a  part  very  little, 
owing  to  the  impossibility  of  all  getting  claimi. 
Of  those  who  pushed  on  to  the  Upper  Fraser, 
some  going  by  the  Brigade  Trail,  and  others 
through  the  cafions,  or  over  the  Lilooett  roate. 


ITS  SOIL,  CMMATK,  RRSOURCKS,  *p,. 


17 


All  arrived  ea  utterly  Impoverished,  or  ooni- 
pletely  broken  down,  (in  to  he  unlit  to  do  i\iiy- 
lliinK-  Hcttini;  out  with  Hcanty  Rtorug,  thitHO 
had  bouomu  exImuHtod  l>y  the  length  of  time 
they  were  on  the  way,  orbnen  tiiken  from  them 
by  the  Indian!).  Yvt,  living;  on  Ii8h  and  berrii'H, 
Huch  of  th(Ho  men  aH  liiid  fortitude  to  remain 
and  make  a  trial,  nearly  all  did  well,  gome 
taking  out  largo  xums  of  gold,  though  having 
only  the  moHt  rude  and  imperfect  implements 
to  work  with.  When,  Inter  in  the  Heason, 
proviflionit  began  to  come  in,  prices  ranged 
from  one  to  two  dollarH  a  pound — yet  so  good 
were  the  diggings  that  the  miiierH  were  vastly 
more  concerned  about  the  supply  than  the 
price.  And  so  these  men  ou  the  Upper  Francr 
lingered  on  through  the  fall,  wailing  impa- 
tiently for  the  completion  of  the  new  Lilooctt 
trail,  when  it  was  expected  provisions  would 
be  more  abundant  and  cheap.  This  work, 
however,  not  being  tinished  until  too  late  to 
get  in  supplies  for  the  winter,  nearly  the  en- 
tire population  was  obliged  to  vacate  this 
region  on  the  arrival  of  cold  weather. 

And  here,  again,  is  another  item,  which  in 
estimating  the  value  of  these  mines  by  the 
yield  of  last  season  should  be  set  down  to  their 
credit.  In  the  prosecution  of  this  valuable 
improvement,  over  live  hundred  men  were  ab- 
stracted from  the  mining  population  and 
kept  on  this  work  throughout  the  entire 
season.  A  good  many  were,  also,  in  like  man- 
ner engaged  opening  trails  along  the  Fraser, 
or  elsewhere,  or  in  other  pursuits  foreign  to 
the  business  of  mining.  This,  with  the  extent 
to  which  labor  was  diverted  for  the  {)urpo8e  of 
building  boats,  digging  ditches,  chastising  the 
Indians,  and  various  other  objects,  taken  in 
connection  with  the  fact  that  much  time  was 
foolishly  lost  in  waiting  for  the  falling  of  the 
water,  and  the  additional  fact  that  mining 
operations  were  mostly  confined  to  the  Lower 
Fraser,  the  mere  entrance  to  the  mines,  all 
goes  to  show  that  large  allowance  should  be 
made  when  calculating  the  aggregate  yield  of 
these  mines  the  past  season. 

As  has  been  said,  many  of  these  serious  in- 
terferences with  mining  industry,  as  well  as 
much  of  the  heavy  expense  alluded  to,  may  be 
avoided  the  present  season.  The  miner,  on 
reaching  Victoria,  can  proceed  at  once,  and  a 
■mall  cost,  directly  to  the  head  of  steamboat 
navigation  on  comfortable  steamers,  a  number 
of  which  are  already  on  the  route,  while  one 
of  our  first  class  Sacramento  river  boats  is 
about  leaving  to  be  employed  in  the  same  ser- 
vice. With  these  accommodations  the  vex- 
atious and  ruinous  delays  at  Victoria,  the  dan- 
gerous passage  of  the  Gulf,  with  the  tedious 
toilsome,  and  still  more  perilous  ascent  of  the 
,  rivers,  with  the  hard  work,  exposure  and  ex- 
pense incident  t«  travel  on  this  part  of  the 
journey  in  the  early  day,  will  be  avoided.  The 
portages  will  also  be  made  the  present  neason 
with  much  greater  expedition,  Cumfort  and 
economy  than  before,  as  a  sufficient  number  of 
animals  will,  no  doubt,  be  brought  upon  them 


I  as   soon    as    ri'ipiired.     Tlii.-.    st'oms    probable; 

I  from  tlio  fact  that  ^>\■^^\■  three  liuiiiiii'd  pa(  k 
aiiimal.t  wore  wintered  at  lloiiapaile  river,  lor 
the  [lurpose  of  being  placed  ou  the  l/ilonett 
route  this  spring,  while  a  consideralile  num- 
ber have  been  sliippud  from  Sau  I'Vancisrd, 
and  seveial  tniiuM  have  set  out  from  Orea'oii 
for  the  NaiMc  de>iinati(iM.  With  thcMO  facili- 
ties, then,  for  re.ii'hing  the  centre  of  the  Fraser 
gold  fields,  Willi  llie  Indian  tribes  paeilicd  or 
overaweil,  ninl  a  liiMinilleMS  extent  of  virgin 
mines  Hlrotelied  out  in  every  direction,  it 
would  seem  iis  il'ttood  \vii;,'e8 ought  to  be  made 
there  this  .uiiiiinior,  iiotwillistamlitig  provisions 
may  bo  high,  and  other  expenses  siuuewhat 
greater  tliiin  in  Ciilitornia.  For  tlio  benelit  oC 
Hiicli  as  may  feel  inclined  to  try  their  lortiiiie 
in  that  i|iiiirier,  the  best  routes  to  be  taken 
will  next  be  pointed  out,  to  be  followed  by  a 
notice  of  the  iiiiniiig  rnles  and  regulations  in 
force,  and  a  few  practical  observations  of  a 
general  character, 

ROI'TKH  TO    TIIK   INIKIKMl. 

Parties  bound  to  the  Upper  Fraser,  that  is  to 
say  any  point  over  tliirly  or  forty  miles  above 
Thoni|iNon's  Fork,  should  go  by  the  way  of  the 
new  MIooet  route,  as  being  not  only  the  most 
safe  and  expeditious,  but  also  the  cheapest. 
In  fact  the  route  by  the  river,  ascending 
through  the  caf)ons,  is  iienrly  impracticable 
expect  at  a  low  .stage  of  water,  and  even  then 
is  attended  with  much  danger  and  delay,  there 
being  several  portages  where  not  only  the 
cargo  but  the  boat  itself  has  to  be  lifted  from 
the  water  carried  over  the  rocks,  mid 
launched  above  the  rapids.  A  trail  has  been 
commenced  l)etween  Fort  Vale  and  the  Fork.s, 
which,  when  completed,  as  it  will  be  this  sum- 
mer, will  alfonl  tolerable  facilities  for  travel 
between  these  two  points.  In  going  to  the 
vicinity  of  the  Forks  this  trail  or  the  river 
must  necessarily  be  taken,  but  in  going  to  the 
upper  country,  to  which  the  great  moss  of  the 
mining  population  must  rejiair  to  find  profi- 
table employment,  the  route  indicated  should 
be  chosen.  The  diggings  below  Thompson 
river,  being  mostly  confined  to  the  bars  along 
the  Fraser,  have  not  capacity  to  employ  more 
than  four  or  five  thousand  meri,  while  that 
portion  of  them  below  the  cafions,  and  to  which 
nearly  the  entire  population  was  restricted  last 
summer,  would  scarcely  oUbrd  room  for  two 
thirds  that  number.  Hence,  in  the  cent  of 
any  large  influx  of  people,  a  majority  would 
be  obliged  to  betake  themselves  to  the  l'|)per 
Fraser. 

Supposing  this  his  point  of  destination,  then, 
the  minor  takes  the  steamer  at  Victoria  an(i 
proceeding  to  Langly,  or  such  other  point  as 
this  steamer  connects  with  the  lighter  draft 
boats  running  above,  he  is  there  transferred  to 
the  latter,  which  carry  him  to  Port  Douglas,  at 
the  head  of  steamboat  navigation.  The  dis- 
tances on  the  route  thus  past  over  are  as  fol- 
lows :  From  Victoria  due  north,  to  the  moutu 
ot  Fraser  river,  passing  through  the  canal 
de  Uarro,  65  miles ;   from  the  month   of  the 


18 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


river  to    Fort    Iiiii<|j;li!v,    ;!5    niilcH  ;    tliriii;(>  to  j 
lti«  moiitli  of  lliirriioii  rivor  ^Ifi  miles  ;  up  llnr-  I 
rj-^uii  river  7,  mid  iktush  lljtrriHoii  liike  to  I'tirt  I 
l'oii)(l»i*,  'i:i  iiiik-s  :  niiikiiiK  tliu  entire  (iJHtancv  ' 
Ml  stuauiboiit  travel   ITfi  iiiilui).     The  time  rc- 
>liiire(I  to   miiki'  ilii^   iJiHtaneo   by   Htvamer  Ik 
..l)outtwo  (liiy>  — ie.ift   if  lliu   (Julf  bu   oronHeil 
'luring  lliu   iil)(lit'     Witli  tiail  buatK  or  eaiioen  I 
il  i?'  H  vcooil  |iiis.sii};e  if  iiiiiiie  ill  u  week  or  ten  ' 
u.iy*  ;   lienee  tli<>  liml  eeoiioiiiy  of  atteiii|>lili^  it 
HI  ilii-i  Kort  of  craft,  to  !<iiy  notliing  of  ilaii(;er,  ' 
iihi-it  be  obvious   to   tliu    inoHt   iiioxpcrieuo'd  ' 
iiiiiiinvr.     At  low  water,  Hteuiultoiii  luivipttiiiii  '■ 
i-t  suiiiewliiit  iiiiurf-'reii   with  on   tlie  llarriMoii  [ 
I'lutr  by  a  Kuriert  of  sIiohIh,  whieli  ut  xiieii  timei< 
caiiiiinK  rapid!!,  it  is  ditlieiilt  for  even  tliu  li){ht- 
t  it  draft  Hteaiiiers  to  i«,<eeiid.     yVt  all  other  rea- 
sons such  boats  ^o  up  with  the  i^rcatudt  facil- 
iiy,  there  beinj;  plenty  of  water,  and  the  current 
>iarcely    perceptible.     The    Government   liaN 
iii:iture(i  a  plan    for  obvialinx  tliiH  dilllculty, 
w  liieh  will  be  carried    into   ell'eut  the  coming 
Kiitnnin.     Acro8!i  the  first  |iortn{(e  from  Port 
l>ouKlaH  to  liiike  Lilooett,  M  niilcH,  there  is  a 
inulc  trail.     This  trail,  constructed  last  year  ut 
X.  heavy  cost  to  thet'olonial  Government,  leads 
tlirouf^h  a  dense  wildjrncHs,  and  beinn;  k*-''><^' 
tally  in  good  ci  ndition,  cau  be  crossed  by  p>ick 
train-i  in  about  two  dayn.     Over  this   part  of 
tilt;  rciute  there  is  canoe  navigation,  by  means 
iif  the  liillooct  triver,  counccting  Harrison  and 
i.illooett  lake.     Itut  it  is  ditticult  and  haxard- 
ous,   especially  when  the  stream  is  high,,  and 
VUJiiy  lives  were  lost,  Inst  sninroer,  in  attempts 
10  ascend  it;  but  there  was  then  no  othermode 
of  getting  over  this  portage,  there  being  not 
even  an  Indian  path  across  it.     Now  it  is  other- 
wise, and  though  packing  is   rather  high  ai 
present,  it  will  no  doubt  be  reduced  as  the  sea- 
son advances,  and  should   in  no  event  tempt 
parlies  to  try  the  dangerous  alternative  ottered 
by  tlie  navigation  of  this  fatal  river.     The  price 
oi' packing  over  this  portage,  last  season,  was 
ei;r|it  cents  a  pound  ;  this  year  it  will  probably 
be  less,  as  the  number  of  animals  will  be  great- 
ly increased.     The  cause  of  these  high  rates 
was  the  scarcity,  or  rather  entire  absence  of 
^rasB  in  this  vicinity,  compelling  the  owners  of 
animals  to  purchase  hay  and  grain,  at  heavy 
expense,  for  their  subsistence. 

Having  reached  Lilooett  Lake,  travelers  are 
passed  over  in  small  boats,  animals  and  large 
lots  of  goods  in  8cow.s — passage  $2,  freight 
half  cent  a  pound.  The  modes  of  conveyance 
and  the  prices  charged  on  all  the  lakes,  of 
which  there  are  i.'iree  along  this  line,  are  the 
« ime.  From  Lake  Lilooett  to  Lake  Anderson, 
25  miles,  is  another  mule  trail.  Packing, 
however,  on  this  is  much  less  than  ou  the 
other,  the  distance  being  shorter,  the  road 
easier,  and  feed  more  plentiful.  At  the  south 
end  of  this  portage  are  the  Lilooett  Meadows, 
r.oQsisting  of  several  thousand  acres  of  mag- 
nilicvnt  prarie  land  covered  with  a  heavy 
t^rowth  of  grass,  fit  alike  for  haymaking  or 
pasturage.  Approaching  the  other  end,  the 
turcst  begins  to  open  and  bunch  grass  shows 
it.self   in    considerable    quantities,    affording 


ample  feed  for  stock,  and  rendering  their  keep 
much  less  costly  than  on  the  first  portage. 
This  part  of  tne  journey  can  be  made  comfort- 
ably in  a  day  and  a  half  or  even  a  day  by 
footmen,  the  road,  (or  the  most  part,  always 
being  in  good  condition.  Having  crossed  this 
portage,  we  arrive  at  Lake  Andeixin,  Id  miles 
lung.  Over  ft,  next  comes  the  sliorl  portage, 
one  and  a  fourth  niilu  long,  with  a  wugoii  roud 
and  a  team  In  readiness  to  convey  freight  over 
at  the  same  rate  as  on  thi.>  lakes.  Having 
crossed  it,  the  traveller  Is  brought  to  the  lasi 
and  largcjit  lake  ot  the  group,  being  Lake 
•Setou,  IH  miles  long,  and  extending  to  within 
four  miles  of  Kraser  rivor.  From  its  foot,  gooil 
trails  extend  in  every  direction  into  the  minus, 
and  all  |)arts  of  the  interior.  Here  al.so  ani- 
mals can  bo  ]irocurod  at  low  rates  for  packing, 
large  bands  being  constantly  kept  for  that 
purpose.  Though  the  cost  of  transporting 
iroods  will  vary  with  distance,  it  is  uniformly 
12SS  here  than  along  the  route  further  south, 
since  at  this  point  auimals  coming  in  from 
Oregon  accumulate,  and  grass  is  abundant, 
growing  not  only  in  the  bottoms,  but  also  on 
the  prairies,  and  even  against  the  sides  of  the 
mountains.  Traveling  and  packing  throiigii 
this  region  is  not  at  all  diiiicult,  the  country 
being  open  and  the  trails  keeping  along  on  the 
table  lands,  often  for  miles  without  interrup- 
tion. 

Hut  having  piloted  the  miner  thus  far,  he 
may  safely  be  left  to  shift  for  himself,  since  he 
is  now  over  the  most  ditlicult  part  of  his  jour- 
ney, and  pretty  well  advanced  into  what  may 
be  considered  the  gold  fields,  proper  of  British 
Columbia.  Indeed,  when  he  shall  have  ar- 
rived at  the  terminus  of  the  Lilooett  route  he 
will  be,  longitudinally,  at  the  centre  of  the 
Kraser  river  mines,  with,  at  least,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  of  auriferous  country  to  the 
north,  and  fully  as  far  above  the  first  diggings 
met  with  in  ascending  the  river.  Here  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  healthful  and  invigorating  cli- 
mate ;  with  an  atmosphere  exempt  from  sud- 
den change  of  temperature  and  undisturbed 
by  storms  ;  encouraged  by  liberal  mining  re- 
gulations, and  protected  by  impartial  laws ; 
in  the  midst  of  a  beautiful  open  country  and 
wide-spread  virgin  mines,  the  adventurer  may 
reasonably  anticipate  a  success  commensurate 
with  his  efforts,  and  nay  justly  consider  him- 
self unfortunate  if  he  fails  to  reap  an  ample 
reward  for  all  his  loss  of  time,  his  heavy  ex- 
pens  and  toil. 

LIBRBAL   POLICY   TO   BK   PrBHDKD. 

As  has  been  stated,  England,  no  doubt, 
entertains  the  purposeof  carrying  out  u  variety 
of  grand  projects  in  her  British  American 
possessions.  The  consummation  of  these 
plans  wilf,  from  their  very  nature,  involve  a 
necessity  for  populating  as  speedily  as  practi- 
cable her  territories  on  the  North  Pacific.  As  • 
means  of  hastening  that  end,  she  will  be  im- 
pelled to  the  adoption  of  a  liberal  policy  in 
governing  the  colonies  about  springing  up  in 
that  region.  This  she  has  signified  her  inten- 
tion of  doing,  in  the  most  open  and  positive 


ant 

SU( 

avt 


wh 

by 


ITS  SOIL,  CMMATK.  UKSOUIICES.  Ac. 


Ill 


niaiiiicM',  and  not  Rntiiiflcd  that  lliv  wnrM  .^lioulil , 
D'lnuin  ill  doubt  •■  to  thcne  liur  litMD'liccnt  dc- 
«i)(iiN,  ur   be  Ud't  to  Infur  tlifin  from  iiiiv  vn^ciip 
mid  iipotr^plial  HUtliority,  thv  Colonial  Si'ci'it- 
tiiry,  HpuiikiiiK  tlic  HontinicntHof  tlic  Iioiiih  t(*>v- 
rrnmi-nt,  huit  riijoiiii'd  on  the  ri-prcHentiitivt!  ut 
the  crown  in  that  qiiarttT  u  Mtrict   couipliitnuf 
with  thego  view*  in  all  hii  ofUcial  condiivtand 
iriiiiHuctioMH.     And    not   on   ii  HinKic  occiiiion 
oiiiy,  hiivu  the  InHtruciionM  of  thin  fiinctionury 
hi!t<n  iiiiulc  to  embody  theHO  the  dcairco  of  the 
liiipi-riul    I'arliitnient    on    tliis   nutiject.     The 
entire  diHpatchefi  itiHUcd  from  bia  ofliee  breathe 
the  Kiiine  iipirit,   rcvcalinK  the  earncgt  winh  ot 
the  Koveninicnt  iu  the  preniiavs,  and   Kiviii^ 
utiMuranee  that  a  broad  and  {rcncroux  policy  if 
to  be  iiiipreBKed  on  the  adniiniHtration  of  pub- 
lic aifairs  in  thexo  provincvH.     Tlie   nyAtein  of 
lucaHures   already   initiated  for  the  reKuhition 
of  traiio,   the   manaf^enient  of  the  mineii,  the 
dinpOMition  of  the  public  landR,  and  the  protec- 
tion of  the  viiriouH   leading  intereHta,  are  Htich 
us  will  be  likely  to  invite  capital,  t'oMter  iiidub- 
try,  Htiiniilate   enterprise,  eneoura^e  imiiii^rii- 
tioii,  nnd  lead  to  a  speedy  develupmonX   of  the 
rcHourceM,  and  a  rrpid  and   permanent   settle- 
ment of  the  country.     In  all  their  public  act.*, 
it  inuHt  be  conceded  the  home  government  ha.s 
thus  far   evinced  an  earnest   desire  and  a  linn 
determination    to    advance  the    prosperily   of; 
ihesc  colonies,  securing  to   their  inhiibitunlH  I 
all  those  civil  rights  which  the  English  so  mil-  ; 
iiently    enjoy,    and    conceding    to    them   the  | 
largest  political  liberty  compatible   with  their  | 
position  as  a  dependency  of  the  empire.     N'or  is 
this  liberal   policy  to  be  confined  in  its  opera   I 
tion  to  her   own   people.     England  welcomes  i 
to   these  colonies   every  class   of  foreigners, ' 
guaranteeing  them  the  same  social,  commercial ! 
and  industrial  privileges  as  secured  to  her  own  i 
citi/.ens,  and  that  whether  they  come  as  mere  j 
adventurers,  or  with  a  view  to  permanent  set-  I 
tluraent.     Especially  has  this  kind  and  concili-  { 
alory  disposition  been  evinced  towards   Amer- 
icans, who  have  been  particularized  as  a  de- 
sirable population,  on  account  of  their  experi- 
ence in  mining,   and  their  usually   industrious, 
and  energetic   habits.     So   solicitous  has  the 
f^overnment  seemed  for  the  maintenance  of  a 
good  understanding   with  this  class,   that  the 
authorities,  more  particularly  the  naval  forces, 
have  been  cautioned  against  indulging  in  any 
undue   display  of  power,  or  the  wanton  com- 
mission of  any  act  calculated  to  awaken  oppo- 
sition, or  lead  to  a  contlict  between  themselves 
and  those  of  a  diiferent  nationality.     It  is  also 
suggested  in  this  connection  that  the  Governor, 
availing  himself  of  bis  influence  and  popularity 
with    the    Americans,    might  readily  induce 
them  to  cooperate   with   him  at  all  times   in 
enforcing  the  law  and  preserving  order  ;  and 
furthermore,  that  since  the  adoption  of  a  more 
popular  mode  of  governing  may  soon  be  ren- 
dered expedient,  it  would  be  well  for  that  offi- 
cial to  provide  for  the  election  of  a  legislative 
assembiy,  and  call  to  bis  aid  a  council,  part  of 
which   should  be  composed  of  miners,  chosen 
by    themselves.    These    declarations    of  the 


mother  country,  so  oft  re|i''iitrd  iiml  po«iliM\ 
siidlciontly  forrsluidow  her  pinpoHCH  in  ri'/aiil 
to  Ihexe  roloiiies,  nnd  niii.\  l)c  tiiken  lis  'iti 
earnext  of  the  policy  to  be  observed  in  the 
future  coniliict  of  their  alVairti.  Certiiln  it  ii-. 
reposing  in  these  asHiiraiices.  the  enilgniiit  iiiiiv 
repair  thither  conlldent  that  ho  will  be  nin- 
plied  protect'id  and  fiilrly  ileult  wilh,»liili' 
every  facility  will  lie  afforded  hitii  to  engii(»e  In 
mining,  or  acijiiire  a  portion  of  liie  publit 
lands,  with  a  proHpect  of  piiitiiipatlng  to  h(  ine 
extent  in  framing  the  laws  and  regulation."  b,< 
whici)  he  shall  be  governeil. 

MCKNHKH,    OlfTIK.H,    HI' KK'KII  AM'K.S,  AC. 

This  entire  class  of  iinpot'tNiinil  permit.-'  were 
levied  or  allowed  by  (iov,  Doiiglan,  in  his  two- 
fold capacity  as  Agent  of  the  lludsonV  11. ly 
t'oinpany,  nnd  representative  of  the  CroHii. 
Thus,  the  licen.^e  to  mine,  the  perniiN^ion  lo 
import  goods,  and  the  HiiO'crHiice  to  niivi^'Mii- 
the  inland  waters  ot  Mrilish  Coliimbiii,  were 
granted  by  virtue  of  his  viceroyal  chariK  In, 
and  the  funds  accruing  formed  a  ]iart  ot  I  lie 
l)ublic  ri'Venue.  This  fact  is  iiiiiioiinceil  in  bin 
proclainution  on  the  subject,  wherein  hestMl(  - 
that  these  duties  are  imposed  by  virtue  ornn- 
thority  duly  conferred  upon  liim,  and  for  tln' 
purpose  of  providing  meiins  to  iletriiy  the  piili- 
lic  expenses  of  the  ("oloiiy.  llead-iiion(',\ , 
licen  es  to  trade,  kv..  are  pre-umed  t"  liiiv.- 
been  exacted  by  the  (Jovernor  in  his  cnpiicit.v 
ns  thee.xecutive  of  the  (.,'()nipiiii\ ,  under  varriin; 
of  their  claim  to  the  exclu.sive  right  to  trade  in 
the  territory,  and  of  tieir  being  in  the  lepil 
possession  of  the  siime.  It  is  true,  the  validilv 
of  this  claim  has  constituted  the  subject  of 
much  popular  discussion,  speculation  unit 
csmplaint,  but  the  fact  that  its  exercise  lia- 
been  acquiesced  in  by  tlie  (iovernment  tor  sn 
many  years,  seems  a  virtual  ucknowledgmeni 
of  its  genuineness,  a  conclusion  at  which  thii.^c 
adversely  interested  in  the  question  would 
seem  to  have  arrived,  since  no  legal  meii^iire.j 
have  ever  been  taken  for  testing  its  soundiu'S!-, 
not  even  the  law  officers  of  the  thrown  being 
willing  to  institute  proceedings  for  tlnit  ptir- 
pose,  on  Government  account. 

The  Company  argue  that  the  clause  in  ll'cir 
charter,  conferring  upon  them  the  exclu^ivi 
right  of  trade  with  the  Indians,  extemls  by 
implication  also  to  the  whites,  the  latter  not 
being  mentioned,  though  intended,  for  tin- 
reason  that  there  were  at  the  time  no  white,*  in 
the  territory  thus  subjected  to  their  jiirisilli:- 
tion  ;  and,  that  at  all  events,  the  exercise  of 
this  righ(t  carries  with  it  the  force  of  law  (rom 
long  and  uninterrupted  usage.  Be  that  ns  it 
may,  it  is  now  too  late  to  call  in  question  the 
legality  Qf  these  acts,  or  to  insist  that  they 
were  in  their  nature  usurpations  or  exactions, 
since  whatever  there  may  have  been  in  them 
illegitimate  and  informal,  has  been  cured  and 
legalised  by  subsequent  pro(;lamations  of  the 
Executive,  sanctioned  by  the  Home  Govern- 
ment. 

The  amonnt  of  head  money  charged  by  the 
Company  was  $2,  for  every  person  entering' 
the  mines.  This,  however,  with  all  tntde  licen- 


10 


BIMI'ISil   (M)lilJMHIA, 


ncK,  cxi'f|tl  until  itH  .^piiiiR  I'lHiii  tiiimii  i|(iil  ri'({- 
iiliituitm,  boiiiK  now  ilint  oiilliMirH,  rciiuirct  no 
lurlliiT  ntilii'i'.  'I'liii  |i>lli>\, iiiK  In  tlic  Hclu'diilo 
1)1  (luticH  |<  lyikbli'  III!  )(i)i>iIn  itii|iiirti'tl  iiitu  lirit- 
itli  Culiimlim.  All  kiniU  ol  licxli  iiiciit,  tUli, 
IriiitN  mill  vcxiliihlrH,  liiriiliti',  liii>,  ii'iirk»il»fr, 
poiillry  iinil  live  mot  k  ;  nil  xorts  i.l'  riirniinn 
iiii|>U-iii<>iilH.  M'vtU,  iiliinN,  ft\\\.  biiokH  itiui  |m- 
|i(in,  rlidli^,  l)i>K'|{iiKi',  |>liil«'.t-i(iniil  i!ii|iU'liu-iitM, 

All'.,  lire  iidniiiliii  I'n i  iliilii-:*.     On  nil  otlicr 

iiiliiit'H  II  l<ii  |ifr  fiMit.  ml  riilnrrm  duly  in 
chnrufl,  Willi  llii'  follow  iii>;  i  x.fiilioiiH  ;  Kloiir 
Ml  clH.  oil  (.'vorv  l!Mi  IIh.  ;  lii'iiii.i  iiml  jh'iih  l'i.\ 
i-tM,  on  tiViTV  loo  lli-i..  iiii>l  even  kiinl  of  (.'riiiii 
Id  III'  UHcil  ni*  liioil,  oiio-lmir  lliiit  niiioiiiit. 
Lli|iii'r8  ikrr  reipiinMl  to  pay  ii  'Inly  ol'  $1  piT 
>f  illoii  ;  '.I'M  fill  clH.:    nil',    Immt,  porUT,   ntiil 

I'iilcr  I'J^  rlH.  Virlorlu  niul  I'sipiiiiinll  briii^ 
tici!  poiiM,  nil  (.'(loili  liiiiiliil  iIhtc  iin-  I'xi'iiipt 
tioin  duly,  vi'.-ni'Ih  simply  pnyiiij;  tlio  ordiiinry 
port  cliii'rKi's.  Vi':<;*(l.-i  ili'.-tiiu'd  for  UritiHli 
iiolumliiainii  pny  tlic  diitii-*  yl  filliiT  of  tlu'sc 
poii.<,  or  pioinil  (llroc  t  to  Qnii'iilioioiipli,  on 
Kriispr  riviT,  wliiili  ix  now  ii  port  ol  «)iilr), 
and  niiiki-  paymciil  tliiTc. 

Toucliinc  I'll'  HUlt'criUH'i'  fxiimdi'd  to  fori'iKn 
lioltoiiH,  ulloH inn  till-Ill  to  <"t''<'  ''"rnscr  river, 
(iovi'rnor  l)oii|{liii*  in  tlii' I'M'n'iHcof  tliiMliHcre- 
lionary  powiTH  confcrri'd  upon  liiiii.  m)  fur  in- 
tiTfrred  with  tlie  niivij{atii)ii  lawn  ol  Kiif^liind 
ns  to  pcriiiil  sti'iiUHT-i  imd  liirfc  vrnHid;),  ivliat- 
I'Vcr  their  ttmt,  to  i-lrur  for  Korl  l,aii(;ley  on 
piiyinunl  of  $11!  enrli  trip,  fiiiall  lioalsi  $•>,  h 
rourHfi  in  wliiidi  ho  was  nniply  jiistilicd  by  the 
pressure  of  cireumstani  e»i  niid  tliu  exineneies 
of  tlio  times.  As  ii  eoudiiioii,  slenniers  were 
re(|uired  to  pny  the  Conipiiny  .'^'J  heiui-inoiiey, 
for  eaeh  passenger  they  should  eatry  ;  to  stip- 
ulate that  they  would  eonvey  noni^  wlio  had 
not  taken  out  u  uiiiunj;  liieiiKO  mid  paid  ^fi, 
being  one  month's  lulvanee  thereon,  and  ulso 
that  they  would  carry  no  jfooda  exeept  thoso  of 
the  Company  or  sueh  as  they  niiKht  permit. 

For  the  privilej^e  of  entering  the  mines  every 
purson  was  reijuircd  to  pay  a  royalty  of  $.'»  a 
month,  liut  this,  as  wis  also  the  ease  with 
head-money,  was  not  very  rigidly  enforced. 
I'asdcugurs  proceeding  to  Kraser  river  on  the 
.steamers  were  obliged  to  pay  these  dues,  the 
vessel  being  held  accountable  therefor,  but  in 
most  other  cases  they  were  evaded,  and  in  very 
few  instances  was  more  than  one  month's  11- 
eenso  ever  paid.  Uercatler,  it  is  probable,  this 
impost  will  be  entirely  dispensed  with,  an  ex- 
|iort  duty  being  substituted  in  accordance  with 
the  popular  desire,  and  in  compliance  with  n 
suggestion  of  the  Home  (joverment  to  that  ef- 
feit 

MININO  RULKH  AND  UliUULAT10N8. 

For  the  purpose  of  making  temporary  rules 
and  regulations,  and  carrying  out  such  per- 
manent ones  as  government  may  determine 
upon,  a  Crown  Commissioner  for  the  gold- 
lields  has  been  appointed,  having  a  requisite 
number  of  assistants.  The  si/.o  of  mining 
claims  was  in  the  first  instance  fixed  by  gov- 
ernment, being  limited  to  144  square  feet  to 


each   perm. II       I'lie   object  of    rpslrlrllnir  the 
miners  to  so  Niiinll  an  area  was  that  (hr,>  miifhl 
lie  kept  in  an  loiiipact  bodies  a*  iiimsilile,  ■iiice 
lliey  could  thus    more  easily  be  supplied  wlh 
prtivisions,  and  the  bettor  protect  themNelvcH 
against     the      Indians.      HubHVi|iienlly    these 
limits  were  enlnrgeil,  and  the  <i/.e  of  elnimN 
hxed  at  l!fi  feet  froiitnge   In  rivers,  anil  2f>  feet 
of  the  bed  of  a  creek  or  ravine,  and  20  feet 
sijiiare  of  a  table  land  or  Hats,  to  each  person. 
These   regulations,   however,   have  been    tint 
I  little  regnnleil,  the  miners  going  on  and  fixing 
I  the  si/.e  of  lli(-ir  claims,  and  estublishiiig  such 
]  rules   fiir  holding  mid  working  them  as  they 
I  deemed  expeilient,  a  prnctiee  with  which  the 
(,'oiiiiiiis>ioner  and  his  nssistnnts  hare   not  in- 
terfered to   any  great  ixteiit.     It  is  probablo 
however,  that  the  authorities   will   assume  a 
greater   control   when  allnirs  shall    become  a 
little  more  hctllcd,  introdiicingai'omprehensive 
and  well  digested  system,  based  upon  a  general 
survey  of  the  gold  IliMils,  and  made  to  conform 
I  to  llint  now  in   force  in    Aiistrilia,  with  such 
I  inoililicnlioiis    as  rxpei  leiice   may   suggest  or 
I  circumstances  require. 

j      Indeed,  the  (Jovernor  has  been  instructed  by 
the  t'olonial  .Secretary   to   sei'  that   a   proper 
I  system  for  managing  and  working   the   mines 
!  be  devined  and  brought   into  force   to  the  end 
j  that  this  branch  of  industry  be   controlled  by 
1  uniform  mill  well-known  rules,  rnther  than  by 
|a  variety  of  local   regulati'ins,   dejiendent  on 
I  usage  and  chance.     In  maturing  this  system 
'  he  has  been   advised  to   avail    hi-nselfof  thn 
I  services  of  (Jhief  Justice  Itighie,  and  to  call  to 
I  his  aid  a  number  oi'  miners,  to  the  end  that  ho 
i  may  have  the  benefit  of  the  legnl  learning  of 
'the  one  and    the   pracliciil   experience   of  the 
'other,  and  thus  conitriict  a  mining  code  which, 
;  while  it  shall  duly   guard   the   rights   of  the 
Crown, 'vill  secure  to  the  miner  every  possible 
advantage.     In  this  manner  a  plan   would,    no 
doubt,  be  instituted,  which,  from  its   uniform- 
ity and  stability,  would  prove  alike  satisfactory 
^to  labor  and  capital.     On   the   whole   it  mny 
fairly  be  concluded  that  a   liberal  policy  will 
be  adopted,  and  that  government  interference, 
so  fir  as  exerted,  will  be  for   the   convenience 
and  protection  of  the  miner. 

NATURAL    IIIHTORY    AND    PROnUOTH. 

■"Although  British  Columbia  atforda  a  grand 
field  for  tho  exjilorations  of  the  traveler  and 
the  study  of  tho  artist,  it  holds  out  little  induc- 
ment  to  the  slndent  of  Natural  History,  the 
absence  of  nearly  every  kind  of  animal  life  be- 
ing strikingly  apparent.  One  may  travel  for 
days  through  the  woods,  or  over  the  plains 
and  lakes  and  scarcely  see  a  living  thing, 
except,  perhaps,  fish,  which  only  at  certain 
seasons  are  abundant.  These  remarks,  how- 
ever, only  apply  to  the  interior,  since  along 
the  sea  shore  animated  nature  is  more  prolific, 
the  waters  being  in  every  species  cf  marine 
production  especially  abundant.  Amongst  the 
land  animals  the  principal  kinds  met  with  are 
deer,  of  several  varities,  the  elk,  bear — both 
black  and  griizly — panther,   lynx,  wild-cat, 


ITS  SOIL,  CFilMATK,  KKSOUUCKS,  Ac. 


21 


grand 
lor   and 

indiic- 
ory,  the 

life  be- 

avel  for 

plains 

thing, 

certain 

,  how- 
e  along 
prolific, 

marine 
mgst  the 
with  are 
ir — both 
irild-cat, 


woir,  and  mnnntiiin  ulicrp.  Tlio  luttrr  In  » 
lurK«  anirnikl  WPlKliin((,  when  full  Riown,  iirv- 
nral  liuiiilrnl  piiiiniU.  It  in  covrDMl  with  long 
Iniir,  rPNi'iiljlitift  ronrNO  wool,  niul  Hii|)|ilii<il 
with  onurniiniii  crooitrd  hornn,  upon  wliicli  it 
in  *Mi(l  to  Ntril<o  when  throwing  itMrIf  from 
prcciplcca  in  Meriting  In  i'Krnpc  purMnit. 

Tlio  Hi-nIi  id  pitvonird  ri|iii)l  to  tliitt  of  the 
domeitlcatrd  nlu'cp,  but  It  Ih  riiroiy  tliu  Iniiitor 
luakei  a  prize  ot  oiip,  or  rvrn  \iutH  li  nIkIiI  oI 
thfin,  tlicy  Ix'inK  nxt'ci'dln^iy  Rolititry  in  tlioir 
lialiitv,  Itfcpini;  iiiwityH  on  tlir  topH  of  lii)>  niont 
wild  and  riiK^ril  niountiiinii.  Kvcn  when  tlio 
Hnowa  I'lill  dcpp,  tlioy  do  not  coniit  down  iih  do 
otiior  anlniiilM,  Hr(>kin|{  llie  inijilrr  clitiiiktc  and 
inure  abundant  (VimI  of  ilio  valli'VH.  Tlicrit  arp 
also  foxtH,  niiirniotK,  riililiits,  niinkH  iind  mar- 
tins, and  hIou);  tlio  Hlrrainx  lirarcr  and  ottrr, 
thouKb  tlioHp  iininiaU  arn  now  vi>ry  Hc-urcv,  as 
well^ns  Nl>y,  havin)f  iiecn  no  niiicli  hunted  fur 
their  pcltrioH  and  t'lirti.  AnionifHt  the  inlVrior 
animalM  are  HkunkH,  g(|uirr('li),  mice  and  a  Hin- 
Kular  spci-ios  of  l)iit<h-tailoil  rat,  said  to  be 
naturally  iniHclii(  vous,  a  reputation  it  irems 
Ambitious  to  dfisiTVP,  nioildliii^r  with  ev«>rytliin)( 
about  tlin  travflnr'o  camp  at  niKlit,  and  run- 
ning over  IiIh  pcrnon  with  tlio  ftruatoot  famili- 
arity. These  raHy  liabitH  am  proliably  owing 
to  the  immunity  trom  harm  guaranteed  it  liy 
tl>e  Indian,  who  scruples  not  to  feed  upon  every 
other  form  of  animated  matter,  save  only  the 
rat  and  tlie  raven.  These,  owing  to  a  natural 
repugnance,  or  more  likely  in  his  ea.se,  to  some 
superstitious  notion,  the  Indian  never  cats, 
oven  in  his  extremest  need. 

While  inni  .lai.'t  are  scarce  in  this  region,  of 
birds  it  may  b<i  said  there  are  almost  none, 
since,  with  the  exception  of  water-fowl,  you 
may  not  gee  one  in  a  day's  travel.  Oeesc,  ducks, 
swans  and  brant,  however,  gather  in  clouds 
about  the  lakes,  and  inlets,  in  the  proper  sea- 
son. Pelicans,  cranes  and  loons  are  also  to  be 
found  about  these  places  at  all  times.  Of  the  teath- 
ured  tribe, are  occasionally  seen  the  eagle,  hawk, 
cormorant  and  raven.  t)wls  arc  lU  times  heard, 
but  not  often.  There  are,  also,  a  few  wood- 
jieckers,  bluejays,  larks  and  a  small  dusky 
ground-bird,  with  a  few  quail,  and  a  good 
many  grouse,  the  latter  always  fat  and  tender. 
The  raven  resembles  that  of  California,  being 
large,  and  uttering  the  game  harsh  crouk. 
Near  the  sea,  gulls  and  several  other  kinds  of 
aquatic  animals  hover  about  in  great  numbers, 
ailbrding  the  natives  much  acceptable  food  by 
means  of  their  flesh  and  eggs.  The  pelican 
being  a  ciumscy  bird,  also  falls  an  easy  prey  to 
the  Indian. 

Fish,  small  and  of  an  inferior  kiud,  are  plen- 
tiful in  the  lakes  and  streams  at  ail  seasons, 
but  salmon,  the  onl}  really  voluable  fish,  is 
abundant  only  from  June  till  September, 
being  best  and  most  numerous  in  August. 
This  is  a  most  delicious  fish,  being  large,  rich 
and  oily,  easily  caught  and  readily  cured, 
and  hence  most  valuable  both  for  the  white 
and  Indian.  An  inferior  kind  of  salmon  is 
taken  during  the  fail  months,  called  the  hook- 
bill,    from   its    having  a  beak   like   %  parrot. 


It  has  i>mall,  sharp  teeth,  \n  covered  with  llviil 
KpotH,  and  its  fleHJi  in  soft  and  llitlihy.  Tlitt 
whites  d(>  not  ■  are  to  rat  it,  nor  i,i  it  niiirh  rel- 
iHlied  by  the  natives.  Kinu  trout  Is  eauKht  in 
the  streaniH  during  winter.  The  Indians 
adopt  various  plans  for  taking  the  larger  lisli, 
spearing,  the  wier  iinil  basket  being  the  most 
common.  A  small  species  of  smelt,  hut  little 
worth,  HwariiiM  In  Home  plares  ;  sturgeon  o( 
largo  si/.e  and  excellent  (|uallly  are  freipieiitly 
caught  ill  the  Kraser.  In  l.i'.ko  Oklnagan,  and 
In  all  the  streams  along  tlin  Oregon  trail, 
trout  weighing  from  one  to  two  pounds  and  of 
tine  flavor,  are  caiiKht  with  the  greatest, 
ease,  men  taking  them  out  with  nets  by  the 
wagon  load,  and  by  wading  into  llio  water, 
catching  them  with  their  hands  wiihout  dilll- 
culty.  In  the  inlets  and  all  tldi>  walem,  fish 
of  every  variety  abound  In  in<Te(lili|('  (luiin- 
titles;  nor  nro  oysters,  <^linnS|  mussels,  or  any 
other  kind  of  NJiell  fish  wanting.  Of  reptiles 
and  insects,  except  mosi|uitoes,  conlined  to  the 
Lower  Kraser,  and  a  few  other  localities,  llrlt- 
Ish  (Columbia  has  but  few.  There  nro  soinn 
rattle  snakes,  with  a  few  others  of  a  more 
harmless  kind.  The  li//,ard  seen  in  Califor- 
nia, is  not  common,  nor  is  thi!  tarrantula,  or 
centipede  mel  wiili.  Indeed,  the  whole  coun- 
try is  renia.kal)ly  cxenijit  from  both  arimals 
and  reptiles  of  a  hurtful  or  obnoxious  kind, 
being  in  this  respect.  If  no  other,  a  very  de- 
sirable abode  for  man. 

TIIKKS,    PI.ANTH,  KntIIT.H,  ««. 

The  Southern,  which  may  also  be  called  the 
rainy  portion  of  lirillsh  Columbia,  is  a  densely 
wooded  country,  both  the  mountains  and  plains, 
with  the  excei)tloii  of  a  few  inconsiderable 
prairies,  being  covered  with  thick  end  stately 
forests.  Ho  cloxly  do  the  trees  si  'nd,  and 
withal  so  tall  and  straight,  that  the  united 
navy  yards  of  tho  world  might  draw  thenco 
their  supplies  for  years,  without  more  than 
partially  exhausting  those  spacious  and  mojrs- 
tic  forests.  To  the  north  and  cast  there  is  less 
timber,  the  country  being  open  and  the  only 
wood  met  with,  except  in  the  bottoms,  being  a 
species  of  pitch  pine  scattered  sparsely  over  its 
surface.  It  never  grows  large,  being  not  over 
a  foot  or  two  in  diameter,  anil  is  not  much  es- 
teemed for  making  lunibor,  though  being 
straight  and  of  suitable  size,  it  is  very  conve- 
nient for  building  log  cabins  and  for  similar 
uses.  Many  of  the  prairies  in  these  sections 
are  entirely  destitute  of  trees,  although  the 
growth  along  tho  strmims  is  in  most  j)lnces 
abundant  and  varied.  The  prevailing  timber 
everywhere  is  pine,  fir  and  spruce,  of  dillcrent 
varieties,  with  liemlock  and  cedar,  und  a  small 
sprinkling  of  birch,  oak,  ash,  yew  and  maple. 
In  the  swamps  ond  along  the  water  courses 
willow,  alder,  cotton-wood  and  balm  of  Qilcad 
are  found  ;  the  latter  always  attracting  notice, 
its  unctuous  buds  glittering  with  healing  gum 
and  filling  tho  air  with  balmy  fragrance.  To 
this  tree  the  native  tribes,  as  have  the  whites 
from  the  earliest  ages,  ascribe  many  medicinal 
virtues,  assigning  it  an  important  place  in  their 
pharmacy.    It  here  grows  to  a  majestic  size. 


22 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


The  nlder  also  grows  up  into  a  tali  slender 
tree,  tree  from  limbs,  and  henue  uscfui  for 
fencing  purposes  and  eaHily  cut  into  fire-wood. 
The  yew,  very  scarce,  is  a  hard,  tough  wood, 
resembling  hickory.  The  Indian  uses  it  for  bis 
bow,  and  the  white  man  for  pick  and  axe  helves, 
it  being  about  the  only  stuff  found  in  the  coun- 
try suitable  for  these  and  similar  purposes. 
The  maple  and  ash  are  both  of  the  soft  varie- 
ties and  fit  for  little  else  than  fence  and  fire- 
wood. The  bark  of  the  birch  is  full  of  a  re- 
sinous substance,  which  readily  igniting  and 
burning  with  a  bright  blaze,  is  used  by  the  In- 
dians for  kindling  fire^  and  for  torches.  From 
'  the  cedar  rails,  shingles,  and  even  clapbon'-fs, 
are  easilysplit;  while  the  spruce  and  fir,  the  lat- 
ter also  called  Oregon  fir  and  Douglas  pine,  af- 
ford the  best  material  for  piles,  spars  and  every 
species  of  lumber.  The  oak  being  the  same  as 
that  found  in  California,  is  mostly  confined  to 
the  country  east  of  the  Cascades,  and  even  there 
it  is  not  abundant.  The  redwood,  or  anything 
resembling  it  nearer  than  cedar,  docs  not  grow 
in  British  Columbia.  Everywhere  the  size  of 
the  timber  varies  with  altitnde ;  that  in  the 
lower  valleys  being  of  gigantic  dimensions, 
Hud  dwindling,  as  we  ascend  the  mountains, 
into  mere  shrubbery,  until,  at  a  height  of  five 
or  six  thousand  feet,  we  reach  the  limit  of  re- 
;?etation — the  line  of  eternal  snow. 

Although  British  Columbia  shows  great  pov> 
erty  in  the  animal  kingdom,  the  vegetable 
world  is  sufficiently  varied  and  prolific.  In- 
<  ^d,  it  is  not  often,  except  in  tropical  cli- 
mates, that  a  rich  jr  botany  is  presented  to  the 
student  of  nature.  Flowering  shrubs,  escu- 
lent roots,  medicinal  plants,  wild  fruits  and 
berriee;  are  everywhere  abundant.  In  its 
Flora  it  strongly  resembles  California,  the 
prairies  being  covered  and  the  woods  filled  in 
the  spring  with  the  same  superfluity  of  gor- 
geous flowers,  though  there,  owing  lo  the 
more  timely  rains,  they  are  not  so  short  lived 
as  with  us.  Nearly  everywhere  in  the  forests, 
the  wild  lilac  and  the  snow-drop,  and  on  the 
plains,  the  wormwood  and  cactus  are  seen  as 
in  the  southern  portions  of  this  State.  For 
curative  and  like  purposes,  the  natives  make 
use  of  a  great  variety  of  plants,  though  the 
uiedicine-roen  rely  much  on  their  powers  of 
exorcising — being  simply  the  mesmeric  influ- 
ence they  are  able  to  exert  for  driving  away 
the  tkookunu,  or  evil  spirits,  that  are  supposed 
to  be  the  cause  of  disease  and  death.  There 
are  a  variety  of  shrubs  from  which  they  make 
tea  to  be  used  as  a  beverage,  and  some  of 
which,  to  the  taste,  is  not  unlike  the  drink 
made  from  the  Chinese  leaf.  In  the  bark  of 
the  tender  hemlock  they  find  a  remedy  for 
diarrhoea,  while  the  young  sprouts  of  the 
raspberry,  is  eaten  in  the  spring,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  correcting  disorders  of  the  blood. 
The  leaf  of  the  bear-berry  is  dried,  either  in 
the  sun  or  over  a  fire,  and  then  smoked  in  a 
pip?,  being  mixed  with  tobacco,  when  they 
have  any.  The  effect  produced,  though  very 
slight,  is  similar  to  that  of  tobacco,  yet  it  does 
not  taste  at  all  like  that  substancu,  being  in 


fact  quite  insipid  and  nearly  tasteless.  Of 
roots,  the  Indians  have  the  potato,  introduced 
amongst  them  by  the  Knglish,  and  a  variety 
indigenous  to  the  country,  the  most  valuable 
of  which  is  the  carumass,  resembling  a  small 
white  o".ion.  Their  potatoes,  of  which  nearly 
every  tribe  raises  some,  are  excellent,  being  of 
the  species  kuown  as  lady-fingers,  that  never 
fail  to  be  dry  and  solid  when  grown  in  u 
proper  soil.  The  wappatoo,  the  root  of  the 
fern,  and  of  certain  flags,  some  of  which  are 
not  only  palatable,  but  highly  nutricious,  are 
also  baked  and  eaten. 

But  of  all  the  comestibles  in  the  vegetable 
world,  the  most  valuable  to  the  Indian  are  the 
wild  fruits  and  berries.  On  these,  next  to  fish, 
he  is  morally  dependant  for  subsistence,  and 
fortunate  for  him  it  is,  that  they  grow  so  plen- 
tiful, and  last  for  so  great  a  portion  of  the  year. 
Of  fruits,  he  has  the  wild  plum  and  cherry^  the 
crab-apple,  the  prickly-pear,  and  several 
other  kinds  ;  while  of  berries,  there  is  an  al- 
most endless  variety,  including  the  strawberry 
and  raspberry — coming  earliest  in  the  Spring — 
the  blackberry,  whortleberry,  blueberry,  scar- 
let currant,  the  gooseberry,  bearberry,  the  sal- 
lal  and  many  others ;  these  being  the  kinds 
most  common  and  abundant.  Cranberries, 
also,  abound  in  tb  j  marshy  places.  Of  all  these 
the  sallal  is  r  erhiips  the  most  acceptable 
and  serviceable  to  the  Indian,  as  it  is 
easily  gathered,  very  nourishing,  readily 
preserved  by  means  of  drying,  and  lasts 
the  latest  in  the  season — hanging  on  the 
biirhcs  until  December.  The  leaves  of  the 
bearoerry  are  dried,  us  above  mentioned,  and 
used  as  tobacco,  being  th«:n  called  qutr-lo-t- 
ehintl.  Tliere  is  also  a  singular  fruit  called  the 
Oregon  grape,  growing  on  a  low  bush,  having 
serrated  prickly  leaves.  It  is  worthy  of  men- 
tion only  as  a  curiosity,  being  so  sour,  even 
when  ripe,  that  nothing  can  eat  it.  The  fore- 
going, by  no  means  fill  the  catalogue  of  fruits, 
and  berries  growing  wild  iu  British  Columbia, 
yet  they  serve  to  show  that  nature  has  been 
generous  in  this  department,  and  prove  that 
the  Indian,  thus  supplied,  but  for  his  indolent 
and  improvident  habits  never  need  want,  much 
sess  perish,  as  he  sometimes  does,  through 
Iheer  starvation,  during  the  season  of  winter. 

OKAtSKS. 

The  indij^enous  grasses  of  British  Columbia 
are  very  similar  to  those  found  native  in  Cali- 
fornia. Wild  timothy  or  prairie  grass,  some- 
times mixed  with  clover,  covers  the  rich  bot- 
toms and  prairies  to  the  south,  bunch  grass 
growing  with  the  greatest  luxuriance,  even  to 
thr  tops  of  the  mountains,  ''  roughout  all  the 
open  country.  Swamp  grass  of  different  kinds, 
some  being  fine  and  nutricious,  others  almost 
as  coarse  as  tales,  abounds  along  the  borders 
of  the  lakes  and  in  other  marshy  places.  On 
the  Smass  prairies  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Fort  Langley,  are  many  thousand  acres 
covered  with  wild  timothy  and  other  nourish- 
ing grasses,  from  which  hay  6f  excellent  qaal- 
ity  could  be  made  with  the  greatest  facility, 
the  growth  being  very  thick  and  standing  four 


ITS  SOIL,  CLIMATE,  RESOURCES,  Ac. 


23 


or  five  feet  high.  Along  the  Chilliwhaock,  a 
HW»ii  fiver  entering  thu  Fraacr  five  miles  tiu- 
low  the  mouth  of  tho  Harrison,  are  also  fine 
opportunities  for  cutting  hay,  the  grasa  being 
equally  as  good,  though  not  so  much  of  it  as  on 
the  Smass.  lliiy  cut  hen^  could  easily  be  got 
to  market — the  Chilliwhiiock  being  navigable 
tor  light  draft  boats  for  .-iomo  distance.  The 
best  place,  however,  for  making  hay,  markut 
and  facilities  for  cutting  being  considered,  iri 
the  Lilooett  meadows,  at  the  head  of  the  Lil- 
ooett  lake.  Here  the  gniHs  is  equally  as  good, 
and  nearly  as  abundant  as  at  the  Smass,  while 
the  great  number  of  pack  animals  employed 
will  always  crvute  a  demand  for  it  at  remuner- 
ative prices.  The  soil  on  all  the.se  prairies 
■lonsists  of  a  rich  sandy  loom,  rendering  tlieni 
the  most  valuable  districts  for  agricultural 
purposes  of  any  in  the  Colony,  except,  ]>erhap8, 
fome  of  the  valleys  in  country  of  the  iJiniilk- 
araeen  and  the  Okinagan,  a  region  that  has 
advanced  much  in  importance  since  the  recent 
ascent  of  the|Columbia  to  Priest's  Rapids  by 
the  steamer  Col.  Wriffhl  on  her  late  trial  trip, 
an  event  of  consequence  to  the  entire  country 
east  of  the  Palls,  and  particularly  to  that  un- 
der consideration,  the  head  of  steamboat  navi- 
gation having  thus  been  brought  within  a 
sQort  distance  of  Fort  Ukinagan.  All  these 
fine  tracts  of  land  offer  great  inducements  to 
settlers,  they  being  equally  adapted  to  the 
raising  of  grain  and  s  ock,  governmcntjallow- 
ing  them  to  be  occupied  until  such  time  as 
they  can  be  surveye>J  and  brought  into  mar- 
ket. Cattle  require  no  feed  here  during  the 
winter,  except  such  as  they  can  themselves 
pick,  while  grains  and  fruits  of  every  der'crip- 
tion  grow  with  as  much  thrift  and  as  little  cul- 
ture as  in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 

MINEHAI.8. 

Although  gold  at  present  forms  the  most  at- 
tractive, as  well  as  the  most  ready  source  of 
wealth  in  British  Columbia,  it  by  no  means 
constitutes  the  only  valuable  mineral  in  the 
country.  A  great  variety  of  other  metuls, 
though  as  yet  but  little  sought  for,  have  been 
met  with,  some  in  quantities  indicating  large 
deposits.  Silver  ore  of  the  richest  quality,  has 
been  found  at  several  localities,  portions  of 
which,  on  being  anuly/.cd  have  shown  ninety 
per  cent,  of  pure  silver.  At  two  points  on  the 
Lilooett  river,  and  also  at  a  place  near  Kani- 
loops,  ore  of  this  description  has  been  taken 
from  veins  cropping  out  at  the  surface.  On 
the  east  bank  of  the  Lilooett  river,  at  the  outlet 
of  the  Little  lake,  is  a  silver  vein  of  large  size, 
well  known  to  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity,  and 
from  which  a  Mexican,  a  man  of  scientilic  at- 
tainments, and  well  versed  in  the  working  of 
silver  mines,  took  several  specimens  last  fall, 
pronouncing  them  unusually  rich.  Specimens 
of  copper,  nearly  virgin,  have  been  obtained  on 
the  Fraser,  above  the  Fountain,  and  on  the 
river  opposite  that  place,lignite,  or  bituminous 
wood,  of  the  earthy  variety,  exists  in  such  quan- 
tities as  to  have  been  used  by  the  miners  for 
fuel.  li,  is  found  in  detached  pieces,  worn 
round   like  pebbles;  is   of  a  brownish-black 


color,  nearly  as  light  as  water,  very  friable, 
and  burns  freily  ;  when  blown  it  sends  forth  a 
light  bla/,e,  whence  it  would  probably  be  use- 
ful for  blacksraithing  purposes.  Iron,  coal, 
and  truces  of  cinnabar  are  frequently  met 
with. 

Platinum,  agates,  cornelians,  and  quart/., 
both  crystali/.cd  and  massive,  occur,  in  all 
parts  of  the  interior.  Excellent  lime-stone, 
marble  of  tlio  purest  variety  and  very  accessi- 
ble, granite  and  many  other  varieti«s  of  build- 
ing stone  an!  common.  Hut  since  this  class  of 
productions  cannot  bo  rendered  immediately 
available,  as  agents  ot  wealth,  it  will  hardly 
be  necessary  to  enumerate  them  more  fuHy  at 
present. 

Mineral  and  warm  springs  are  features  of 
the  country.  One  of  the  latter,  on  the  trail,  22 
miles  from  I'ort  Douglass,  on  the  Lilooett  trail, 
has  been  found  highly  beneficial,  in  cases  of 
disp(Bptia  and  rheumatism.  The  water,  in  a 
volume  of  about  four  square  inches,  issues 
from  a  conglomerate  rock,  at  a  temperature  of 
U>0°,  with  a  gurgling  sound,  coming  at  inter- 
vals from  the  interior  of  the  rock.  The  water 
smells  of  sulphur,  and  is  slightly  impregnated 
with  magnesia,  lime,  salt,  etc.  The  Indians 
resort  to  this  spring  at  all  times,  bathing  in, 
and  drinking  freely  of  the  water,  having,  to  all 
appearance,  great  faith  in  its  remedial  proper- 
ties. 

THE  MINKS  ANt)  MININ»   I'ROSrKCTS. 

Before  concluding  the  present  series  of  arti- 
cles, it  may  perhaps  be  well  to  make  soniC  fur- 
ther mention  of  the  gold  deposits  in  British 
Columbia,  and  to  inquire  after  the  mining 
prospects  the  ensuing  summer,  as  based  on  the 
latest  and  most  reliable  intelligence  from  that 
quarter.  Space  will  notpurmitof  any  detailed 
statements  or  lengthened  investigation  of  this 
subject  at  present;  yet,  as  the  shipments  of 
gold  dust  out  of  the  country,  may  be  consider- 
ed a  very  fair  index  of  mining  prosperity,  let 
the  sums  transmitted  through  the  tv/o  Express 
companies  doing  business  in  Victoria,  for  the 
month  of  April,  being  the  latest  statistics  we 
have  on  the  subject,  be  taken  as  evidence  on 
that  point.  Between  the  11th  day  of  April, 
then,  and  the  10th  day  of  May,  these  two 
houses  brought  down  $195,000,  on  account  of 
shippers.  During  the  same  period,  it  is  esti- 
mated that  $75,000  additional,  came  in  private 
hands,  making  $270,000,  exported  from  Victo- 
ria to  this  port,  in  these  30  days.  Meantime,  at 
least,  $30,000  more  was  carried  away,  by  the 
steamer  Constitution,  and  by  sailing  vessels  run- 
ning to  different  points  on  the  Sound,  in  pay- 
ment of  cattle,  lumber,  vegetables,  And  other 
conimodities,  largely  imported  into  Victoria 
and  British  Columbia,  from  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington Territory,  giving  a  total  of  $300,000  ex- 
ported during  the  month  of  April,  and  which 
may  be  supposed  to  represent  the  product  of 
the  mines  for  the  preceding  month  of  March. 
If  we  further  suppose  there  were  $3,000  men — 
rather  a  high  estimate — at  work  in  the  mines 
digging  out  this  amount,  and  that  they  labored 
twenty  out    of   the   thirty-one  days   in   that 


/ 


24 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA, 


month — another  high  estimate,  Sundays  and 
Htormy  weather  buing  dediicled,  this  would 
give  an  average  of  $5  a  day,  to  the  man,  a  re- 
turn comparing  favorably  with  the  wages  real- 
ized in  our  own  mines  ;  whi'e  it  will  not  be 
pretended,  whatever  other  ••iirdships  men  may 
liave  to  endure,  that  the  iabor  of  mining  is  as 
severe  in  British  Coli-..iibia  as  here,  operations 
there  being  mostly  confiued  to  a  foot  or  two  of 
the  top  dirt. 

Thai  a  few  should  have  returned  from  the 
Upper  Eraser,  dissatisfied,  as  is  represented  to 
have  been  the  case,  is  not  surprising,  consider- 
ing that  over  two  thousand  hurried  to  that 
section  in  advance  of  supplies,  and  many  of 
them  L-'fore  the  winter  was  fairly  over.  It  is 
obvious  tuuse  who  hfld  already  returned  to 
Victoria,  must  have  done  most  of  their  pros- 
pecting in  the  month  of  March,  or  early  in  the 
month  of  April,  at  a  time  when  provisions  were 
yet  scarce  and  the  cold  weather  had  hardly 
abated. 

The  following  letter,  one  of  several  recently 
received  from  the  Upper  Fraser,  will  seive  to 
illustrate  the  character  of  the  diggings  in  that 
quarter,  and  to  show  in  what  estimation  they 
are  held  by  a  practical  miner,  who  has  now 
been  in  that  country  ov^r  a  year.  The  purport 
bf  the  other  letters  is  very  similar  to  that  of 
the  one  presented.  Rocker  Rouge,  near  which 
place  the  writer  was  encamped,  is  about  150 
miles  above  the  Fountain,  and  IGO  above  Do 
Kous'  ranch,  the  place  mentioned  in  this  letter  : 
Upper  Fraskr  River,  April,  1859. 

As  you  wished  me  to  write  if  I  wont  above 
muuutain  I  send  you  a  fuw  linos  by  a  man  going 
down  to  Port  Douglas  after  goods,  I  don't  knniv 
tbo  day  of  the  month,  but  it  is  tho  last  of  April.  V/e 
left  Ju  DuUushe's  ranch  about  four  woeks  ago,  and 
came  up  on  the  cast  side  of  the  river,  packed  three 
horses,  and  were  about  a  vroek  coming  np.  Found 
ico  on  the  trail  coming  down  the  steep  bills  and  had 
to  unload  a  number  of  times.  We  came  by  the 
tilde,  and  found  trouble  getting  by  that  place,  and 

I  would  adviFB  parties  coming  to  go  round,  as  there 
is  an  easier  road  by  going  a  little  further  to  the 
east  I  have  heard  of  a  shorter  route  being  found, 
keeping  on   the:  west  side  of  the  river  and  leaving 

II  near  Bridge  river,  an  1  taking  a  cut  off  back  of 
the  mountains,  but  I  don't  know  how  it  is.  We 
prospected  some  coming  up  and  found  a  good  show 
all  along,  but  concluded  not  to  stop,  as  we  heard  it 
was  better  up  here.  It  is  not  much  use  to  prospect, 
for  the  gold  is  ton  fino  to  save  with  a  pan,  and  you 
cannot  lell  unless  you  'xorV  some  with  a  rocker,  and 
we  did  not  want  to  stop  and  make  one  then.  In 
•ome  places  we  found  coarse  ^old,butthoughtwehad 
better  come  on  to  this  place.  This  bar  has  no  name; 
it  is  a  little  below  what  they  call  Rooher  Rouge. 
While  one  of  my  partners  and  a  Frenchman  went 
above  prol^ecting  I  stopped  here  with  the  other 
and  cut  down  a  tree  and  made  a  rocker,  and  we 
have  worked  eight  or  nine  days,  making  eleven 
dollars  a  day  to  the  band,  but  the  gold  is  fine,  and 
we  loose  a  great  deal ;  with  qaicksilver,  I  think  we 
eould  make  an  ounce.  But  the  diggings  are  not 
deep,  and  I  do  not  think  will  last  long ;  we  only 
wash  about  a  foot  on  the  top,  then  the  dirt  grows 
poorer,  but  we  have  not  tried  it  very  deep  yet,  and 
there  may  be  a  layer  of  pay  dirt  below.  With 
sluices  big  wages  eould  be  made  here,  for  a  while  at 


least,  but  (here  are  no  saws,  and  the  timber  is  rery 
poor  hero,  nothing  rauoh  but  poplar  and  cotton  wood 
near  the  river.  Tiiero  is  some  scrubby  pine  back, 
but  it  is  not  munh  worth.  The  country  here  is  not 
mountainous  as  on  tho  Lower  Frasor;  it  is  sandy 
and  knolls  and  hills,  and  plenty  of  grass  and  some 
good  spots  for  farming.  It  is  a  very  pleasant 
country,  but  hard  to  bo  reached,  and  I  would  not 
advise  those  in  California  who  are  duing  well  to 
luave  to  oome  hero,  for  it  is  a  long  journey  to  come 
and  costs  a  groat  deal,  and  then  the  seasons  here 
are  short,  nothing  tu  be  done  fur  four  or  live  months 
in  the  winter. 

The  cost  of  living,  too,  is  great,  nothing  to  be 
bought  fur  1*88  than  a  dollar  a  pound,  and  most 
things  costing  a  dollar  and  a  Iialf,  and  in  this  cli- 
mate men  oat  a  great  deal.  If  wo  had  to  buy  onr 
provisions,  I  think  It  would  cost  us  foui  or  five 
dollars  a  day.  We  have  enough  to  last  six  weeks, 
by  which  time  we  are  in  hopes  good's  will  be 
cheaper.  The  high  prices  are  now  owing  to  paok- 
ing  animals  being  soarco,  though  there  will  be 
several  hundred  horses  .>n  this  route  in  a  few  days, 
wheii  packing  will  bo  hwer.  There  is  plenty  of 
grass  hero,  and  animals  can  be  kept  cheap.  The 
Indians  have  a  good  many  horses,  but  they  ride 
them  to  death,  and  they  are  not  fit  for  anything. 

My  partner,  who  has  been  25  or  30  miles  above, 
found  good  prospects  and  larger  gold,  and  we  think 
it  washes  down,  and  that  a  better  gold  country 
must  lay  north  of  this.  He  says  it  is  a  beautiful 
country  and  more  timber  up  there.  We  shall  stop 
here  and  try  to  get  in  sluices,  when  I  think  we  uan 
double  our  present  wages,  though  it  may  not  pay  to 
go  to  that  expense  unless  the  diggings  prove 
deeper.  There  are  a  ^ood  many  coming  up  this 
way,  though  but  few  have  got  thus  far  as  yet. 
Some  have  gone  above  us,  and  are  it  work,  and 
some  have  gone  back  not  able  to  stand  the  press- 
ure of  tho  hard  work  and  high  prices  of  goods.  I 
think  we  shall  make  a  good  summer's  work  here,  if 
we  can  get  provisions,  of  which  there  is  no  doabt. 
AVe  have  brought  along  twine  for  making  fish  nets, 
and  expect  to  catch  plenty  of  salmon  this  summer, 
with  these  and  some  wild  fruits  we  shall  get  along 
well  if  tho  mines  do  not  disappoint  us.  The  In- 
dians are  not  at  all  troublesome ;  they  are  a  better 
race  than  those  further  south,  but  we  have  seen  but 
little  of  them  as  yet.  They  r;cem  a  little  shy, 
especially  the  women.  I  have  saen  some  of  them 
have  pieces  of  gold,  but  nnt  to  amount  to  anything. 
It  is  not  wash  gold,  and  must  have  oome  from  dry 
diggings,  or  high  on  the  banks. 

We  found  snow  on  our  way  up,  about  five  or  six 
inches  deep  at  places  on  tho  trail,  but  it  soon  dis- 
appeared. There  has  been  thick  ice  in  the  river, 
but  it  has  now  left  and  the  weather  is  mild  and 
pleasant;  no  stormy  weather  of  any  account  since 
we  left.  The  Indians  say  this  has  been  a  hard 
winter.  From  what  I  can  learn,  the  summers  hero 
are  very  warm  and  have  seasonable  rains.  If  so, 
I  think  plenty  of  vegetables  could  be  raised,  as  the 
ground  looks  good. 

My  advice  to  those  in  your  State  is,  to  -.emain 
where  they  are  until  this  country  is  more  explored 
and  better  roads  are  built  to  ^get  into  it.      J.  M.  D. 

The  roroKoing  letter,  us  has  \}teii  statod,  Is  one  of  a 
numlHT  Utrly  recei  cd  from  the  Upper  Frnsur,  tlie  tone 
of  Bomo  or  whidi  is  more  oiicoiiraning,  nnd  of  ethers  less 
ao.  th^n  thnt  of  the  one  here  pretenrrd.  this  hiiTinK  been 
■elected  for  publicatinn  bccauu  It.  fairly  repments  the 
avcraae  opinion  of  the  whole,  and  because  tlia  writer  is  a 
candid  man  and  an  expurienced  miner,  whose  opinioos 
are  entitled  to  respect  and  credence. 


a  '    ,    '* 


